I AM a medical doctor trained at Cambridge University and have a Neurosciences PhD from Imperial College London. I qualified as a Consultant Neurologist in 2016 and have been working in the NHS – in London, in Scotland and also Ireland. We are Azad Kashmiris by heritage but have lived all our life in the UK. My sister Yasmin is a UK banking lawyer by background and Farooq was a Biochemist. He had been educated at Bradford Grammar School and had 3 As at ‘A’ levels (Maths, Geography and Biology). He went to Imperial College London to study Biochemistry and he also had a Masters from the same institution.
She is the Neurologist Rehiana Ali, striving for mobilization of police machinery to apprehend murderers of her brother Farooq Ali, 44, allegedly was killed as he found dead in room of Ramada hotel Islamabad nine months ago but nominated accused persons of commissioning the offence are still at large in result of improper investigation of local police in the matter. Dr Rehiana Ali is fully determined with her septuagenarian parents to continue efforts to exhaust all forums till nabbing of the nominated culprits of the heinous crime.
Talking to TLTP, she informed that her brother Farooq Ali had been living in Ramada by Wyndham hotel, Club Road, Islamabad since May 2021 saying, “We believe he was murdered on 11th or early hours of 12th March 2022. His body, however, was only “discovered” on 16th March 2022”.
Urging the local police to take tangible steps in investigation of the crime she said, “However, the true culprits only come to light after a fair, thorough and transparent investigation – this was our only demand. If they won’t investigate properly, then we should be asking why not? What are you hiding? And for whom?”
She has invoked District Session Judge Islamabad jurisdiction to adjudicate a complaint U/S 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code for legal proceedings over murder of her brother which was turned down. Resultantly, she has challenged legality of rejection of the complaint as her counsel has filed a criminal revision petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the matter for remedy. The High Court has sought a report from police till December 20. Notably local police have registered FIR in the matter in response to order of the Session Judge Islamabad but none of nominated have been interrogated for allegations in the heinous crime of murder so far.
Dr Rehiana Ali added, “My brother was the kind of person who wasn’t just clever in a bookish way – although he read widely – philosophy, science fiction, the greats of English literature but knew much about nature through the David Attenborough programmes, books and National Geographic. His knowledge on geography and politics – be it western, Arab or Asian was immense. He had a wealth of knowledge about history especially Islamic history. Farooq was an intellectual. He always had new ideas and his imagination was at times incredible. He used to observe minute detail – that in combination with his humour led to apt nicknames in the family. His critical analytical skills were on display when he commented on geopolitics”.
“Anyhow, I don’t think hotels make a habit of killing their VIP guests so I suspect – given the absolute refusal of Islamabad police to investigate – that this murder was facilitated at the behest of another”, says Dr Rehiana
She further informed that Farooq spent his first 4 years in AJK saying perhaps that affection for Pakistan and Kashmir was always subconsciously driven by that early period of his stay. Dr Rehiana maintained despite being in the UK for so long, her brother was always Pakistani-Kashmiri at heart and spirit.
“He was tough but generous to a fault – even during his student years, he paid for his younger sibling’s tuition fees. He was passionate about education and advancement of Muslims and especially Pakistanis in the UK. Certain issues like Indian-Occupied Kashmir and Palestine to name just two examples were very close to Farooq’s heart”, Dr Rehiana added.
She firmly said “Let me make clear that my brother, Farooq, was 44 years old and in good health – He was rarely ill – and if he was, I’d be the first to know about it”.
When asked who may be the culprit of such a heinous crime, Dr Rehiana said, “Well, no doubt the immediate culprits are the hotel staff and management. It is not believable that a person can stay here for 10 months at this four-star international hotel and they don’t make any inquiry for five days as to the whereabouts of their long-term guest.
“Anyhow, I don’t think hotels make a habit of killing their VIP guests so I suspect – given the absolute refusal of Islamabad police to investigate – that this murder was facilitated at the behest of another”, Dr Rehiana concluded.
The writer heads a leading news wire service ‘The Law Today Pakistan’ commonly known as TLTP. He has a special focus on news relating to superior courts adjudication, access to right of information, civil, political, social and economic rights under the approach that existing cyber regime realization ensures procedural fairness in administrative law. He can be reached at editor@tltpnews.com
