London: A leading MQM politician murdered outside his house

London: Imran Farooq, a leading Pakistani politician and number two of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), was murdered outside his house in London on Thursday evening.

Farooq, a founding member of the MQM, which is part of the ruling alliance in Pakistan was found with head injuries and stab wounds outside his Green lane house in Edgware in north London and his death sent shock waves in Karachi, where MQM is a major political force.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to reports of a serious assault in a lane in north London.

"Officers found an Asian man, aged 50, with multiple stab wounds and head injuries. Paramedics treated but who was pronounced dead at 18.37 hours (local time)".

Announcing his death in the party website, the local MQM spokesman declared ten days of mourning and cancellation of celebrations of the birthday of the Party's founder Altab Hussain, who also lives here in exile.

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"The police are investigating the crime and are hopeful that the killer will be arrested", a party spokesman said.

"No arrests have been made in connection with the incident so far", police said.

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Farooq, was twice elected as a lawmaker of the National Assembly and was also the founding leader of the MQM's youth wing.

He went into hiding in 1992 in Pakistan when the government ordered a military crackdown against the party in their citadel, Karachi. He was wanted over scores of charges including murder and torture.

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But he had described these charges as "fabricated and politically inspired". Farooq reemerged in London in 1999 where he sought asylum.

Farooq told the British paper 'The Daily Telegraph' that he had fled to England in 1999 after "dead or alive" threats were issued against him.

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He is the second top Pakistani MQM leader to have been assassinated in recent weeks. Raza Haidar, another MQM lawmaker was killed last month in Karachi.