ISLAMABAD: Pakistan formally sought substantive evidence from the United Kingdom for further pursuing Imran Farooq murder case.
The development came after the government legal team concluded that they had insufficient evidence to plead MQM leader case in an anti-terrorism court.
“To actively pursue this case, we’ve sought solid evidence from London Police —without concrete documentary proof it is very difficult for us to pursue this high profile case,” a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed to The News on Saturday. “As London gives us green signal a FIA special team will fly to London — most likely in first week of June — to collect more evidence,” he said.
FIA’s counter terrorism wing, which registered this case under sections 302, 34, 109, 120b of the Pakistan Penal Code and section VII of the Anti-Terrorism Act last year, is investigating three suspects — Mohsin Ali Syed, Khalid Shamim and Moazzam Ali — for their alleged role in this case.
It is very complicated case which involved five countries — UK, UAE, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan, senior official further said. “It’s second time we sent dossier to London Police through a senior official — we asked for sharing of proper documentation to pursue this case further,” he said. Islamabad has already shared all related documents with Met Police but London has yet to respond, he added.
The Directorate of the Counter Terrorism Command and Specialist Crime and Operations told Geo News that Met Police after interviewing thousands of people released three accused previously arrested in connection with Imran Farooq’s murder.
“Three men previously arrested in connection with this investigation have been released without charge — Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command have spoken to 4,555 people — they reviewed 7,697 documents, followed up 2,423 lines of inquiry and seized 4,325 exhibits,” revealed London Police Counter Terrorism Command in its 15-page response sent to Geo TV under “Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015110001430.”
“A 31-year-old arrested on 27 August, 2014 at an address in Waltham Forest. He was subsequently released without charge in May 2015. A 39-year-old man arrested on 9 December 2010, at an address in Camden on suspicion of murder, and also on suspicion of robbery in October 2009. He was subsequently released without charge in March 2012. A 54-year-old man arrested on 24 June, 2013, at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He was subsequently released without charge in October 2014,” revealed the detailed response. The police, however, did not reveal names of these three persons.
“Detectives from the Met Police also remain committed to putting before the courts those responsible. They have been in regular contact with the Pakistani authorities to gather evidence that could assist in bringing to justice the killers of Imran Farooq, therefore to release the specifics of the liaisons that have taken place would have a detrimental effect on the UK government’s relationship with Pakistan, or any other country where liaisons may have also taken place and as a consequence other states or international organisations, would reconsider their affinity with the UK. This would consequently affect the UK's international abilities relating to its overseas citizens, consular and commercial interests and could lead to a lack of trust and undermine law enforcement agreements in the future. It could also influence the sharing of information provided during the course of political and diplomatic exchanges,” read the reply received after around two months.
The police further stated it could neither confirm nor deny that it held any further information relating to this murder investigation as the duty in (1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 does not apply here.
Pakistanis being investigated for money laundering in UK responding queries pertaining to ongoing investigation into money laundering cases, particularly against Altaf Hussain, the police said, “The disclosure of any information, if held, concerning Altaf Hussain or Pakistani citizens investigated for money laundering offences would prejudice any enquiries and the right to a fair trial would be undermined and this is not in the public interest.”
“By confirming or denying whether any investigation has taken place against Altaf Hussain or Pakistani citizens, the public would see where public funds have been spent and allow the police service to appear more open and transparent,” police further responded.
The Met Police, after weighing up the competing interests, have decided that they could neither confirm nor deny, citing reasons which include national security, international relations, law enforcement, personal information and criminal investigations, read the response.
