Govt has no link with Imran Farooq case, FIR lodged on JIT report: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: A day after official registration of Dr Imran Farooq murder case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain in Pakistan, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday said the government had no direct or indirect link with the case.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said the case was registered on the basis of a report prepared by the joint investigation team (JIT), formed to probe the murder of MQM’s senior leader in London in 2010.

The federal government had only approved the registration of the case in the country, said the minister, adding that timing for lodging the FIR was also determined by the JIT.

Chaudhry Nisar said even Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not aware of several stages of the murder case. “In any case, state is the party and not the government,” he remarked.

Terming the murder case as one of its kind, the minister said suspects are in Pakistan, bank transactions took place here but the incident happened in London. British institutions have been taken into confidence in the regard, he added.

Nisar said that cooperation with the Scotland Yard will continue in the case, on which he added a new JIT would soon be formed.

“The investigation will proceed according to findings of the new JIT…Scotland Yard will be contacted if a need arises to seek any information.”

Commenting over Sindh Rangers issue, Interior Minister Nisar said if Sindh government does not send requisition for extension of powers for Ranger, they will be called back.

He said Rangers will not be left in Karachi without legal protection to them.

The minister said that Prime Minister Sharif will visit Karachi tomorrow (Monday) to review law and order situation in the city.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah is yet to approve a summary for extension of Rangers special powers despite passage of expiry on Saturday midnight.

The summary for the extension was sent to the chief minister but it has not been approved.

The paramilitary force enjoys special powers that allow them to conduct raids, detain and interrogate suspects for up to 120 days. According to the previous extension granted in August earlier this year the powers expired at midnight on Saturday.