Karachi Shut Down After Politician’s Death
- 14 years ago
Pakistan's commercial hub of Karachi shut down on Friday after a senior politician belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was stabbed to death.
Imran Farooq, a founding member of the MQM party, was stabbed to death on Thursday in London. It’s not clear if the attack was politically motivated.
Farooq claimed asylum in Britain 11 years ago after more than seven years on the run from Pakistani police. He was accused of involvement in murder and other serious crimes. He denied the charges.
Shops and schools are closed with no transportation available, after the announcement of ten days of mourning.
[Faraz Hamza, Karachi Resident]: (male, Urdu)
"I am shocked. I just got out of my house to go to work. But I see the whole market is closed, the traffic is almost non-existent.”
MQM officials have refused to speculate on motives behind the killing, saying they were waiting for results from British investigations.
The probability of Farooq's death sparking factional violence in Karachi appears to depend on whether British police establish any link to the MQM's rivals in Pakistan.
Imran Farooq, a founding member of the MQM party, was stabbed to death on Thursday in London. It’s not clear if the attack was politically motivated.
Farooq claimed asylum in Britain 11 years ago after more than seven years on the run from Pakistani police. He was accused of involvement in murder and other serious crimes. He denied the charges.
Shops and schools are closed with no transportation available, after the announcement of ten days of mourning.
[Faraz Hamza, Karachi Resident]: (male, Urdu)
"I am shocked. I just got out of my house to go to work. But I see the whole market is closed, the traffic is almost non-existent.”
MQM officials have refused to speculate on motives behind the killing, saying they were waiting for results from British investigations.
The probability of Farooq's death sparking factional violence in Karachi appears to depend on whether British police establish any link to the MQM's rivals in Pakistan.