- MQM chief back in police custody after doctors find no major health risk
- FO says Altaf Hussain’s passport and NICOP will be issued after completion of investigation, says MQM has not sought legal assistance from government
- Normalcy returns to Karachi as MQM offers prayers for Hussain’s health
The London Metropolitan Police shifted Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to the police station on Friday after he was discharged from the hospital.
Hussain had undergone an angiography in the hospital on Thursday and had been cleared by doctors at the hospital where he was being held before being shifted to the police station.
Hussain was arrested by London Met Police Tuesday on suspicion of money-laundering.
Imran Mirza, the acting Pakistani high commissioner to the UK, had said Thursday that the police would question Hussain after he was discharged from the hospital.
Police had concluded the search of Hussain’s house on Thursday which had been going on since 5:30am on Tuesday.
The Scotland Yard told a local news channel that the time which Hussain spent in the hospital would not be included in the detention period.
They said the MQM chief was arrested on Tuesday but he remained in the police station for a little time, therefore, the 72-hour detention law would not be applicable on him.
The detention period would begin again when the MQM chief returned to the police station from hospital.
NICOP, PASSPORT AFTER PROBE:
In Islamabad, Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said Hussain’s passport and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) would be released after completion of relevant investigation.
The FO spokesperson said she did not know the details of the charges pressed against the MQM chief.
Aslam also said that the Pakistani government is ready to extend all possible legal assistance to the MQM chief but so far there had been no such request either from Hussain or his legal team.
NORMALCY RETURNS TO KARACHI:
Meanwhile in the MQM’s stronghold of Karachi, life and business activities returned to normalcy after three days in the economic hub of the country, as markets, petrol pumps and hotels reopened on the MQM’s appeal on Friday.
Karachi remained virtually shut for three days after Hussain’s arrest in the United Kingdom.
The MQM had appealed the traders to open markets on Thursday, though announced to carry on their protest sit-in.
The MQM supporters also observed ‘Youm-e-Dua’ for Hussain’s health and long life.
Senior MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui read out a message from the party chief who asked his workers to continue their peaceful struggle and maintain unity among their ranks.
Javed Hashmi is a great man
Hashmi is a coward. He knows the truth about Altaf, yet he caved to political pressure. Hashmi should stand with the people of Karachi, not with MQM or the criminal Altaf. It is the struggling people of Karachi who are trying to sustain and grow their businesses , who have to sneak out to buy a bottle of milk for their children…and have to sneak into a store that is supposed to be closed to do it who need the support of the Gov't and it's representatives. All the demonstrations and praying and crying to show allegiance to what? A political party who has failed and brought Karachi to it's knees and to support a corrupt narcissistic Altaf who uses the entire city of Karachi as his personal chess game…and bank. Cry for Karachi, not for Altaf.
Very well said.
Well said. Time for change. Time to put criminals behind bars. And promote virtue and true leaders through the hierarchy.
You have really hit the nail on head. Jaded Hashmi should have courage to speak truth. Imagine misery people of Karachi have suffered in last three days, just because Scotland Yard wants to question a British citizen for some alleged crime. Getting British passport and citizenship has its privileges and responsibilities. In UK law is applied equally and fairly to all. Those who break law, do not have a right to question it and must obey it.
LETS HANG all the Karachi Political Parties Leaders and bring in Fresh and Educated Blood.
Remember the maxim that every dog has his day. Altaf took liberty with the laws of the UK thinking that with street power in Karachi no body can touch him but now he is required to face the music. Pakistani Govt. its ministers and politicians should keep out of it as there is nothing they can do. The Police and CPS are totally independent of the British Govt. and any other influence. The evidence is so strong that he can not escape the charge of money laundering and or tax evasion
There is a saying in urdu — 100 din chor Kay, aik din kotwal ka–
MQM Chief is in deep trouble. He can not escape from the law and punishment. His involvement in criminal enterprise is apparent from his allegations of conspiracy against him. London metropolitan police must have credible evidence against him that is why they arrested him. The police is fairly and impartially investigating him.
As for the FO spokesperson is concerned she has made it clear that the government was willing to provide him legal assistance I do not think Altaf Husain needs any governmental assistance. He has his legal team working on the case. This time his bun would be roasted.
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