MQM-L leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif found dead in Karachi

KARACHI: Authorities have identified a body found in a car as Professor Dr Hasan Zafar Arif from Karachi’s suburb Ibrahim Hyderi area, ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to our correspondent, police have confirmed the identity of body as 70-year-old Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London  (MQM-L) leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif. SHO Ibrahim Hyderi said the body was recovered from the backseat of the car. He was reportedly missing since yesterday.

Executive Director Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Seemi Jamali informed media that the professor’s body was brought to the hospital’s emergency department where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. However, she said it would be too early to state the actual cause of death.

“The ultimate cause of death will be examined in light of post-mortem report. The body does not bear any marks of torture or bullet wounds,” she informed our reporter.

Dr Arif was a former professor at Philosophy Department in University of Karachi (UoK).

Following the August 22’s incendiary speech of London-based MQM founder when the party split up into two factions, Dr Arif was among very few personalities to come forward as supporter of London based MQM.

Previously, he had been a die-hard leftist and widely known for his Marxist thoughts. He was arrested by Sindh Rangers on 22 October 2016 outside the Karachi Press Club where he was due to address a press conference, but was later released on bail.

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