MQM founder Altaf Hussain ordered Dr. Imran Farooq's murder: ATC.

ISLAMABAD -- An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday, announcing its verdict in the murder trial of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr. Imran Farooq, said party founder Altaf Hussain ordered the killing and sentenced three accused to life imprisonment.

Dr. Imran Farooq, a founding member of the MQM, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death near his apartment in London in September 2010.

The three accused, Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali, were sentenced by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand. The three were also affiliated with MQM at the time of the incident.

'In the instant case, the chain of evidence connects each and every accused who has performed a distinctive role for completing the task. It is proved that Altaf Hussian ordered the killing of Dr. Imran Farooq,' stated the verdict.

'Two of his other senior party members based in London then communicated the orders to relevant persons based in Pakistan. Accused Moazzam Ali another senior member working at Nine Zero the headquarters of MQM, along with accused Khalid Shamim engaged accused Syed Mohsin Ali and Kashif Khan Kamran for fulfilling the job. The two executors were properly facilitated who went with a sole purpose to London for committing the murder and as per preplanned conspiracy, an innocent person was brutally murdered.'

The court also issued arrest warrants for those accused absconding in the case, including MQM founder Altaf Hussain, Iftikhar Hussain, Mohammad Anwar and Kashif Kamran.

The verdict further stated a compensation of Rs1 million to each of Farooq's next of kin and added that charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and aiding and abetting were proven against the accused.

The ATC, in late May, completed the murder trial of the MQM leader after five years and reserved the verdict.

In 2015, the FIA registered a case against Altaf Hussain for allegedly ordering the murder while nominating three other accused - Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali. However, on May 13 the suspects retracted their confessional statements before ATC judge Arjumand and recorded their fresh statements at a hearing held at...