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Shaheela Imran Farooq, the widow of late MQM founder Dr. Imran Farooq, has passed away in London. According to MQM sources, Shaheela was undergoing treatment for cancer at a hospital in London. It’s worth noting that 11 years after the brutal murder of MQM leader Dr. Imran Farooq in the UK, his widow was hospitalized in London on September 18, 2021. As reported by Geo News, Shaheela was unable to speak, had lost the hearing in her left ear, and had severe digestive issues.
Shaheela and her two sons, Alishan Farooq and Wijdan Farooq, were abandoned by MQM’s London wing, as well as its factions in Pakistan, along with other leaders, including those who are part of the federal government in Pakistan. In 2020, a Pakistani court sentenced three MQM activists, Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali, and Mazhar Ali, to life imprisonment for their alleged involvement in the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq in 2010. However, Shaheela and her sons faced even greater difficulties as they struggled to make ends meet.
Shaheela was diagnosed with cancer, specifically fourth-stage cancer, and had been suffering from the trauma of her husband’s murder on September 16, 2010, in London. According to records obtained by Geo News from the hospital, Shaheela’s cancer diagnosis was made as T4 N1 MO Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Left Mandible, Resection, and DCIA Free Flip. She underwent radiotherapy after the diagnosis.
Close sources of Shaheela’s family revealed that the MQM London wing had cut off all contact with Shaheela and her sons, refusing to provide them with any financial assistance for over a year. In 2018, after the PTI-led MQM in Pakistan became part of the federal government, and following a report by Geo News highlighting Shaheela’s dire situation, a few MQM leaders in Pakistan had promised to help her. Shaheela had tweeted, saying she was fighting cancer alone and had been abandoned by her family.
In the past, it was reported that Shaheela and her sons lived in a small flat above a grocery store, which had been provided by the local council. The MQM founder, Dr. Imran Farooq, was brutally murdered outside his residence in London on September 16, 2010. His murder case continued in Pakistan, while the Scotland Yard in London has yet to catch his killers. In 2015, the FIA had filed a case against MQM founder Altaf Hussain and other senior leaders of the party for allegedly being involved in Dr. Imran Farooq’s murder.
The news of Shaheela’s passing comes amidst a backdrop of controversy surrounding the MQM and its leadership. The party’s leaders have been embroiled in various scandals, including corruption and embezzlement of funds. The MQM’s London wing, led by Farooq Sattar, has been accused of misusing funds and embezzling public money. The party’s leadership has been criticized for its autocratic style and human rights abuses.
In related news, the Pakistan Public Resources for Development Program has approved a report on the market survey of agricultural medicines and pesticides. The report highlights serious shortcomings in the agricultural medicines market.
Meanwhile, a dramatic increase in mobile phone thefts has been reported in Karachi, with robbers targeting mobile phone stores and making off with valuable phones. The Sindh government has taken notice of the situation and has directed the SSP South to arrest the culprits and recover the stolen mobile phones.
The Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has proposed that 2026 be declared as the year of reforms in Pakistan.
