Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Scotland Yard has formally submitted an application to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Department (CPD) for extradition of the three men linked to the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), in London.

A Scotland Yard team in Pakistan was recently seeking to advance a separate investigation into the 2010 murder of Farooq in north London. If the CPD allows the Scotland Yard to extradite the three men linked to Farooq’s murder, they would be handed over to Britain and their trial in Pakistan would be abandoned. If the CPD rejects Scotland Yard’s application for extradition of the trio, their trial would continue in Pakistan.

The Scotland Yard team visited Pakistan last month and met top officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), as Britain requested assistance in the murder case. The team told FIA Director Mazhar-ul-Haq Kakakhel that the Scotland Yard would submit a formal application to Pakistan for extradition of the men linked to Farooq’s murder. The murder suspects are currently in the custody of the Pakistani law enforcement agencies. The British police wanted to extradite only one murder suspect — Mohsin Ali Syed — who they claim was present at the scene of the killing. Pakistan however insisted that Britain should either extradite all suspects or none of them.

“The investigation continues and any further information would be discussed with the CPD,” said a spokesperson for the Scotland Yard. Moazzam Ali is the man who transferred money to the bank accounts of suspects Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif to get the murder plan executed. Its important to mention here that accused Kashif has died. During an investigation into the murder of Farooq, the British police found £ 167,525.92 ($ 235,000) at MQM offices in London and £ 289,785.32 at MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s house in Edgware, north London.