Imran Farooq murdered in London

Pakistani politician Imran Farooq murdered in London.

An exiled Pakistani politician has been murdered outside his home in north London, leaders of his party have said.

Imran Farooq, a senior member of the MQM party, was attacked in Green Lane, Edgware, on Thursday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police said a 50-year-old man had died after suffering multiple stab wounds and head injuries.

The MQM has declared a 10-day mourning period and violence has been reported in Karachi, with cars being set alight and guns fired across the city.

It is understood nobody has been killed or injured.

Hundreds of party activists have converged on Mr Farooq's family home in the centre of Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan and the main base of support for the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement)

Police in London were called to reports of a serious assault at 1730 BST on Thursday. Mr Farooq was treated by paramedics but declared dead at the scene about an hour later.

Mr Farooq's next of kin have been informed. No arrests have been made.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "When officers arrived they found an Asian male, aged 50, suffering from multiple stab wounds and head injuries.

"He was treated by paramedics at the scene but was pronounced dead at 1837."

Mr Farooq disappeared from Pakistan in 1992 and is known to have been living in exile in London since 1999, when he claimed asylum in the UK.

He is understood to have been wanted by security forces and said in 1999 he had spent the previous seven years in hiding in Karachi.

The former Pakistani parliamentarian was one of the founding members of the MQM.

The party said it had declared a 10-day mourning period in Pakistan and in its offices across the world.

Leaders said they expect to take Mr Farooq's body back to Karachi for burial after legal formalities have been completed.