HUNDREDS of mourners gathered in Pakistan and London yesterday to pray for a politician murdered in Edgware two weeks ago.

Yesterday marked the end of ten days of mourning for Dr Imran Farooq, who was beaten and stabbed to death outside his home in Green Lane on Thursday, September 16.

Prayers were offered for him at the headquarters of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) headquarters in High Street, Edgware, and in Dr Farooq's home city of Karachi.

He was a senior figure in the party, Pakistan's third largest, and detectives from Scotland Yard's counter terrorism unit investigating the killing fear it was politically motivated.

Wasay Jalil, a spokesman for the group, denied reports over the weekend Dr Farooq, a father-of-two, was planning to leave the party he helped to found to join one started by former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf.

He told the Times Series: “It's absolutely not true he was leaving. He had been taking a vacation from party work, but was still very dedicated.

“He had come to the party headquarters just five days before he was killed and met with party members, and was in constant contact with the leader Altaf Hussain.

“These are baseless allegations.”

Mr Hussain, who also lives in the Edgware area, has appealed to police for increased protection, saying he has also been subjected to death threats in the past year.

Mr Jalil added: “He has appealed for more protection. In the last year we have made police aware of threats against Mr Hussain's life on more than one occasion.

“In Pakistan last month one of our members of parliament was killed in the streets of Karachi.

“MQM has always been a target because we are against the feudal system which has and still does run Pakistan and we are the only party to speak out against that.”

He added Dr Farooq is expected to be buried in Pakistan when his body is released by police.