Dr Imran Farooq, former Convenor, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Co-ordination Committee, the top position in the party's organisational structure, was born in Karachi in June 1960. He got his MBBS degree from Sindh Medical College (SMC) in 1985. He started of his political career by joining All Pakistan Mohajir Qaumi Movement (APMSO) as Secretary General in 1982. After two years, he became first General Secretary of the party.
In February 2004, he married to Shumaila Nazar, a former member Sindh Assembly, in London. He was elected Member National Assembly (MNA) twice during general elections held in 1988 and 1990. He also remained parliamentary leader of Haq Parast Group in the National Assembly. Being leader of Haq Parast Group, he played pivotal role during MQM's parting ways with Benazir-led PPP government in 1989.
He ran the organisational structure of MQM in Karachi after the assassination of the then MQM Chairman Azeem Ahmed Tariq in 1993. Dr Farooq had gone into hiding when the army launched a crackdown against the MQM in June 1992. He was booked in a number of criminal cases, declared absconders and the government had also announced a reward on his head. He remained underground even after MQM won most seats from Karachi during 1997 and joined coalition with Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N government in Centre and Sindh and became the country's most-wanted fugitive.
In 1999, he managed to slip out of the country and resurfaced in London where he sought political asylum. In 2007, Dr Farooq silently left the MQM International Secretariat and opted to live a secluded life in London with his family. On September 16, 2010, Dr Imran Farooq was assassinated outside his London residence. He leaves behind a widow, two sons, parents, a brother and seven sisters and thousands of party workers to mourn his death.
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