MQM demands justice for Dr Hasan Zafar

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders have demanded Pakistan Chief Justice Saquib Nisar to take suo motu notice of what it described as the custodial assassination of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif, the deputy convenor of the party's London unit.

MQM leader Dr Arif was found dead in a car in Karachi's Ilyas Goth area on January 14 after he was abducted a day earlier.

According to the MQM's statement, a meeting of its senior leaders was held at the MQM International Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by seniors from Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Belgium, South Africa and other countries.

It deliberated on issues relating to Pakistan, international and MQM organisational matters.

The MQM members present at the meeting criticised Pakistan's military establishment on the custodial assassination of Dr Arif, who was a senior and eminent academician, a thinker, a writer and an intellect.

"The meeting while pointing at the Suo Motu notice from Pakistan's Chief Justice, Justice Saquib Nisar on custodial death of Naqeebullah Mehsood and other trifle issues questioned as why he fails to take a Suo Motu on the custodial assassination of Prof Arif, who lived a life of teacher, thinker and educationist", the statement read.

The leaders also demanded that the Chief Justice ensure justice for Dr Arif.