Pakistani Politician Murdered in London

Imran Farooq, who was one of the founders of the Pakistani MQM party, was murdered Thursday outside his home in London. File photo

An exiled Pakistani politician and senior member of the MQM party has been murdered outside his home in north London, MQM officials have announced.

Imran Farooq was attacked Thursday and had died as a result of multiple stab wounds and head injuries. The police have not determined whether there have been political motives behind the assassination and whether the murderer has been a Pakistani.

The MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) has declared a 10-day mourning period in Pakistan. Violence have erupted in the Pakistan city of Karachi but no casulties have been reported.

Farooq was one of the founders of MQM, a former opposition party which is now part of the coalition government let by President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party.

Farooq led the committee, which is the highest decision-making body. He also led international relations and human affairs for MQM, the CNN has reported.

The Pakistani politician has been hiding in Karachi for 7 years because he was wanted by Pakistani security forces. He claimed asylum in the UK and has been living in exile in London since 1999.

According to a BBC correspondent, MQM had a "violent" past.

In 1999 Farooq told the BBC that charges against him in his home country have been politically motivated.

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