Scotland Yard counter-terrorism police have been called in to lead the murder inquiry into the London killing of a Pakistani politician after officials warned a bloody struggle between political factions in Karachi was on its way to Britain.
By Duncan Gardham and Rob Crilly in Islamabad
Security sources told the Daily Telegraph the murder inquiry into the death of Imran Farooq, a founder member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), had been taken over by Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command which investigates political assassinations. MI5 is also likely to be called in to help with the hunt for the killers.
Scotland Yard last night appealed for witnesses to the crime.
Karachi, Pakistan's commercial capital, was in lockdown following the murder of Dr Farooq, who had lived in the UK since claiming asylum in 1999.
Hundreds of deaths of loyalists from rival political and ethnic gang have been recorded this year in a murky corruption and racketeering turf war.
"This has been going on here for years and it's not a surprise to see something happen in London," said a senior counter-terrorism official in Karachi, speaking on condition of anonymity. "These networks extend a long way and are very well developed."
He said it was impossible to tell who was responsible - from fellow MQM members, to rival political parties, business associates or even the Taliban, which is active in the city.
Detectives in London have not ruled out the possibility that Dr Farooq was killed in a random mugging. However, a political motive could spark political clashes in Karachi or undermine the stability of Pakistan's governing coalition, which includes the MQM.
Dr Farooq came to prominence in the late 1980s as general secretary of the newly formed party, which drew its strength from Urdu-speaking immigrants from India who arrived in Karachi after partition.
He was forced into hiding in 1992 during a military crackdown on his party during a violent struggle for control of Karachi. Along with many of his party leadership he was accused of involvement in the kidnap, murder and torture of political opponents drawn from Pashtu-speakers from northwestern Pakistan.
He always denied the allegations and eventually surfaced in London seven years later.
His death on Thursday night, outside his home in North London, took place as party members were preparing to mark the birthday of their leader, Altaf Hussain the next day.
Farooq Sattar, the party's leader in Pakistan, said the timing suggested a political motive.
"The date looks like it was selected by design," he told The Daily Telegraph, but added that a number of other possibilities remained.
"We are trying to keep a lid on speculation. Conspiracy theories could provoke more trouble."
Mohamad Anwar, a party member in London, said the leadership had received threat warnings.
"Because we did not find any symptoms of robbery, we feel that there may be an element of conspiracy and therefore, hence, we can think that this was an assassination," he said.
Political leaders called for calm during 10 days of mourning.
Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, said: "It was a great loss to the party and the family." Traders and bus drivers in Karachi stayed at home yesterday(FRI). Streets were deserted as many people feared a slide into renewed ethnic violence.
Last month Raza Haider, another MQM member, was gunned down with his guard as he attended a funeral near the centre of Karachi. The killing triggered violence in which dozens of people were killed and at least 100 wounded.
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