Scotland Yard probing Taliban role in MQM leader’s assassination in London

LONDON - The Taliban may have ordered the brutal murder of Dr. Imran Farooq, the exiled Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), outside his home in London.

According to the Daily Mail, this theory has emerged as Scotland Yard’ s Counter Terrorism Command took charge of the investigation. The Yard’s decision to take the investigation from the Murder Squad and hand it to the SO15 Counter Terrorism Command increased speculation that Dr Farooq was targeted by the Taliban or one of its supporters.

Senior officers are liaising closely with officials at the Foreign Office, who in turn are briefing Pakistani Government representatives in London.

Dr Farooq, a founding member of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), was repeatedly stabbed and beaten to death outside his northwest London home late on Thursday.

It is understood detectives are hunting for a lone Asian man in connection with the attack, which was witnessed by several people.

Initially, the murder - in broad daylight - appeared to be a clumsy attack carried out by someone with a personal grudge.

But the possibility that Dr Farooq, 50, was the victim of a political assassination appeared to gather credence after MQM members in London claimed the Taliban had issued a fatwa against party officials for their staunch opposition to Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan.

Scotland Yard refused to speculate on possible motives for the killing in a quiet suburban road in Edgware, insisting officers were keeping an open mind.

The MQM is an important member of the federal government in Islamabad. The killing could have implications for national political stability, especially if the MQM accuses its rivals of being involved. (ANI)