Zubair Qureshi
Family members of Farooq Ali, a UK national who was found dead in his hotel room on March 16, 2022 have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir to probe Farooq’s death as it was in fact murder. While addressing a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC), Farooq’s sisters Dr Rehana Ali, Yasmin Ali and advocate Sharafat Ali said Farooq, 44, hailing from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) died under mysterious circumstance and they were sure one hundred percent that he was murdered.
They claimed the hotel in which Farooq was staying was involved in his murder and should be probed as without its management’s connivance/knowledge, murder could not be committed.
Farooq they said was staying at the Ramada by Wyndham hotel, Club Road, Islamabad since May 2021, for the purpose of writing a book. He played tennis and spent most of the day writing, they further said.
Since the hotel is considered one of the top three in Islamabad and reportedly safe too, Farooq chose it, said Dr Rehana however in the same breath she alleged the hotel management was either involved or concealing something.
Yasmins said there was suspicious activity seen on Close-circuit Camera TV (CCTV) with people outside Farooq’s door and alleged that the hotel admin broke his door’s lock without police presence.She said when the hotel administration conveyed to them the news of Farooq’s death they reached the UK the very next day i.e. March 17. The hotel admin told us that Farooq had locked himself in the room for the last five days, however, she said the hotel admin did not provide any proof. They named a list of the hotel management from General Manager to Housekeeping staff and accused them of the act.
Islamabad Police tried to close his case down on day 1 and made false statements in Urdu, lied about samples taken, did not even take fingerprints, said Sharafat Ali Advocate. The police even refused to register an FIR, delayed an exhumation, and refused to interrogate suspects, he added. Besides, no arrest was made so far despite 4 months, he said.
When Pakistan Observer contacted the hotel’s management for its side of the story, a front desk officer denied all the charges however, said the Operation Manager of the hotel would be available in the morning from 10 am to 5 pm and he will be in a better position to give an official statement.
