BRIEF PROFILE OF
DR. IMRAN FAROOQ (1960-2010)

Dr. Imran Farooq, Convener of the MQM was born in Karachi in 1960. He belonged to a respectable family. He was a student of Sindh Medical College and began his political career with the All Pakistan Mohajir Students' Organization (APMSO) in April 1979 and later on appointed as Secretary General of the APMSO.

After the formation of Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM) on 18 March 1984, Dr. Imran Farooq became the Secretary General of the party and used his abilities for spreading the philosophy of MQM Founder and Leader Mr. Altaf Hussain.

In 1988 and 1990 Dr. Imran Farooq took part in the General Elections and on both occasions he was successfully elected with overwhelming majority as the Member of the Pakistan National Assembly and became Parliamentary Leader of the MQM.

As Mr. Altaf Hussain’s life was constantly under threat in Pakistan; Dr. Imran Farooq was amongst those who advised Mr. Hussain for his safety to leave the country and lead the party from abroad. In January 1992, Mr. Hussain left for Britain and has lived here in exile since then. Soon after the commencement of the State Operation against the MQM in June 1992, Dr Imran Farooq was left with no choice but to go in hiding. He remained “underground” for seven years. As a result of courageous and bold leadership while remaining in hiding, Mr. Altaf Hussain declared him as “Hero of the Nation”.

In total disregard to the legal justice system the Establishment pronounce head money on the capture “Dead or Alive” of Dr Imran Farooq in 1992 (later on this act of the Establishment was challenged by the MQM in the courts and was termed as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Sindh High Court).

In 1997, in recognition to the sacrifices and hardships faced by the family of Dr. Imran Farooq, his father Mohammad Farooq was awarded party ticket and was elected as the Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.

Dr Imran Farooq was a very close aide, confidante and a truly committed colleague of Mr. Altaf Hussain. He remained actively involved with the party from the very beginning as the Founder Member of the party. He was instrumental in the transformation of the party from a student organization into the Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM) and then to Muttahida Quami Movement in 1997.

In 08 September 1999, Dr. Imran Farooq arrived in London and claimed political asylum. Spending seven years hiding in Pakistan, he was warmly welcomed by Mr. Altaf Hussain and party workers upon his arrival in London.

In 1999, he was designated as Convener of the MQM Central Coordination Committee, the main policy making body of the party, and till his last breath he remained the Convener of the MQM.

Dr. Imran Farooq got married in London, on 13^th February 2004 with Ms. Shumaila Nazar, the then MQM’s Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

On 16th September 2010, Dr. Imran Farooq was brutally killed outside his residence in Edgware, North London. He was loved and respected by all and known to be a gentleman, soft spoken and extremely nice human being. Dr Imran Farooq was one of the most popular and prominent political leader of Pakistan. Dr. Imran was a literary person, party poet and was the author of several party literature booklets.

Dr. Imran Farooq has left behind his widow, two sons Alishan, 5 years and Wajdan 3 years old, his elderly parents, one brother and seven sisters.