Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan said the federal government has decided to lodge an FIR of Dr Imran Farooq murder case in Pakistan.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday evening, Nisar said that in the light of report of the Joint Investigation Team including British Scotland Yard, the Pakistan government will lodge an FIR in the murder case. He said Imran Farooq was a Pakistani national and that is why Pakistan extended full cooperation to Britain in investigation of the case and shared all information. He further announced that international non-governmental organisation (INGOs) have been given extension of one month for registration under the new policy framed by the government.

Nisar said “those not registering their INGOs will have to leave the country from the first of the month”. The federal interior minister said the extension is also aimed at conveying a clear message that Pakistan wants to work with those international NGOs that are ready to operate within the framework of Pakistani laws. He said 129 INGOs applied for registration before the expiry of previous deadline, November 30. “Process has been initiated for verification of these applications.” “The fact that 129 INGOs applied under the existing policy, contradicted criticism of the policies by some countries,” he added.

Dr Farooq, a senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was murdered outside his home in London in 2010. In July this year, two men said to be linked to the murder of MQM convener Dr Farooq were held near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman, said a media report. The accused — identified as Mohsin Ali and Khalid Shamim by Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman Khalid Wasey — were wanted in the murder case of Dr Farooq. “Imran Farooq was a Pakistani citizen who was mercilessly murdered. It is a high-profile murder, which both British and Pakistani teams have investigated,” he noted.

Separately, Nisar strongly denounced the terrorist attack on military police in Karachi, in which two personnel embraced martyrdom. “It is a deplorable attack. We will confront terrorists in every nook and corner of the country,” Nisar said the targeted operation against criminals and terrorists in Karachi would be expedited. “Such attacks will not deter our resolve to go after terrorists in Karachi,” he added.

Commenting on difficulties being faced by Pakistani immigrants in different countries of Europe, he said Pakistan has asked European Union to treat its citizens appropriately, adding that those who travelled illegally to other countries will have to face interrogation upon their return. Earlier, Nisar said substantial progress has been made regarding National Action Plan. He said the struggle has entered in the decisive phase to make Pakistan a peaceful country. The minister said verification of arms licences has almost completed and they will stand cancelled after the 31st of this month if they were not verified by Interior Ministry or NADRA.

Nisar said the European Union has agreed to address Pakistan’s concerns regarding deportation of Pakistani citizens. “We have asked the European Union to share evidence if a Pakistani citizen is deported on the charges of terrorism and we will try him according to our own laws.” He said formal talks are going to be held next month in this regard. The interior minister and and EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos last month agreed to enhance cooperation to manage current migration and security issues in order to take strong action together to tackle the migration challenges faced by both the EU and Pakistan. Agreement to this effect was finalised during their meeting. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan shared Pakistan’s concern over the irregularities in the implementation of the re-admission agreement, signed between Pakistan and EU in 2009.

Both sides agreed to work together to find solutions to technical problems regarding the agreement and resolving the issues pertaining to its implementation. It was decided that the meeting of the Joint Readmission Committee will take place in Brussels on January 12, 2016 to immediately resolve the above mentioned issues. The two parties welcomed the establishment of an electronic platform which would enhance the speedy and transparent processing of Readmission applications. Commissioner Avramopoulos also announced that the European Commission will set up funding to support the reintegration of Pakistani migrants that return from the EU and will continue to support the internally displaced/uprooted persons in Pakistan. In addition the European Commission will provide funding for targeted projects on preventing and countering migrant smuggling in Pakistan.