An exiled Pakistani politician Imran Farooq was murdered outside his home in London on 16 September 2010. He was a senior member of the MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) party in Pakistan and had been staying in London as an asylum seeker since 1999 when he was wanted by the Pakistani security forces. MQM was a former opposition party and is now part of the ruling PPP-led alliance in Pakistan. The Metropolitan Police said that the 50-year-old man had died after suffering multiple stab wounds and head injuries. It was believed that the murder was politically motivated. The MOM has declared a 10-day mourning period and riots erupted in Karachi, Pakistan’s business capital and largest city.
I am shocked to learn that the incident took place in London, which is supposed to be a city of greatest security in the world. Although the murder is believed to a political problem, we cannot underestimate the social consequences that it will bring out. Violence has been reported in Karachi and it is likely that it will soon spread to other cities of Pakistan. Cars and other properties in the streets are being damaged. And lives of many as a result of political conflicts will be at stake.
Murdering a politician is seemingly a local issue, but the fact that it took place in London means that it could be a global one. Political persecution is not uncommon in many countries around the world, but seeking asylum in another country with greater security assures that those being persecuted would still have chance of fulfilling their political aspirations for their own country. The murder of Mr. Farooq has raised an alarm to many other political leaders seeking asylum internationally about their personal security.
source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11341636
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