File photo of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP/FILE
LONDON: London Metropolitan Police said that an investigation is being carried out against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on charges of money laundering and provocation to torture, BBC Urdu reported on Thursday.
London Police wrote a response to BBC Urdu Service verifying the raids on Altaf Hussain’s residence and office. They also acceded that huge sums of money were seized from his home and office.
The investigation has started but no arrests have been made as yet, police said.
Furthermore, during a reports prepared by BBC show News Night, the police told a BBC correspondent that the investigation into former MQM leader Imran Farooq's murder was also underway.
Earlier in June, as part of their investigation into the Imran Farooq murder case, Scotland Yard raided Altaf Hussain’s house in London.
The search operation continued for over 55 hours.
Later in July, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police in London had told The Express Tribune that a significant amount of money was seized in the raid from the house of the MQM chief. However, the spokesperson did not disclose whether the politician is being questioned over it.
Another spokesperson said that if a money laundering case is established, then it would be treated as a financial case, separate from the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq.
Note: A BBC Online exclusive story on Altaf Hussain cases by Owen Benett Jones to appear shortly.
COMMENTS (104)
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I thinks Biggest gift of this Ramadan for the innocent people of Pakistan would be arrest of Altaf Hussain, on several charges. .
The real issue must be justice instead of showing personal desires. No doubt dis guy Altaf Bhai has done his utmost effort to destabalize Palistan. On the other hand, the gigantic mistake of Altaf was to take scotland yard in the sense of normal palistani concept of police. Anyways now there iz time to repent for his nefarious deeds.
@Raja: @suhaib: Dear, What ever goes aganist the MqM is pro Taliban.Mqm should be wiped out from the politics.
Your parents fondly named you"Raja". But Raja sb. experienced spymaster, Army, Rangers, police, media, judiciary could not wipe out MQM (ALLAH saved it), your simple wish is like......
@Aysha M: @True Karachiwala: Add Uza Syed and Baffled to your list, thanks though
very same to these two as well.
@True Karachiwala: Add Uza Syed and Baffled to your list, thanks though
@suhaib: Dear, What ever goes aganist the MqM is pro Taliban.Mqm should be wiped out from the politics.
MQM would come out with flying colours and make its opponents feel miserable.
@mrs ahmed: @arzal ahmed: @yousufzai: @ Ayesha M: you have become a nightmare for MQM, Karachi bashers. I find your replies decent, objective, and related to topic. Keep going, only haq parast can withstand any challenges
@Ammar:BBC and impartiality ? Every one with little sense of what is going aroung knows that western media always work in tandem. Can you remember west's middle east policies and BBC and other media not showing the dead bodies of innocent babies died in Israeli air attacks?
It's starange that not a single post of mine is been shown.
All I can say is that it is about time and that Altaf returns to his homeland and sincerely help Pakistan.
@Naeem khan manhattan U should listen to Hasan Nissar for peoples becoming the syed and farooqi, hasanzai. yusafzai, so on after migrating for india....
Investigate and put him on trial .Where did he get money and who keeps pound 400,000 in small bills in office and residence in London.
Why MQM is making Hugh and cry MQM should stop killing... report of BBC is genuine..in history whenever government refused MQM's demand.... number of killing in karachi increased
@yousufzai: a city where an average on 5-10 people are killed every single day is "the most effectively run city not just in Pakistan but in all of Central and South Asia." How delusional are you?
@UFF: ridiculous
@yousufzai: excellent account, well done
I am wondering why have they not arrested Altaf yet.
@Ammar: none in your list is an elected representative of thousands of people, pls keep that in mind
Altaf Deserve
Dont know if the figure you give is correct or mot, however tell me how much dose a jalsa cost in lahore nowerdays and is the cost of 10 jalsas less then 400000/ pounds or not , then tell me which party held who many jalsas and their source of funding. If british police had a case there would have been an arrest all this is just quid pro qua to current setup by brit govt. to help them in afghan end game@John:
Bhai desrve it . really
@Ayesha M. and other MQM appologists. .. this is not 1939, we do not live in nazi germany and posting same non-sense, in defense of MQM, over and over will not make it truth.
BBC2 Documentary link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vd65aDlEB8
Readers/Bloggers check these; http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-23637-Anti-terror-police-search-Altaf-Hussains-UK-house
http://www.alrasub.com/altaf-hussain-godfather-karachi-resident-edgware/ Bhatta is collected from the poor and terrorised population in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Confused are the MQM supporters who are still unsure of their own identity, principle and ideology of MQM. Refer to the comments section;
http://tribune.com.pk/story/572445/altaf-hussain-interrogation-carried-out-as-per-uk-law-govt-kept-informed-nisar/
@arzal ahmed, @aysha M and all MQM supporters
Must watch. This is how you keep your leaders comfortable.
http://www.zulfiqarmirza.com/mqm.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSjP3-YbL_c&NR=1&feature=endscreen
@Aysha M: Inshallah MQM will be absolved, it was a shame jeremy paxamn was sp biased. With bori talk it seemed so unbritish , altough englishmen are best known for laughing at ownself and jkes at ones own perception , I remember live BBC braodcast on TV when London mayor was Boris Jhonson was elected , when he was invted to the podium , his legs feet got entangled to the electric wires , and the first thing he said on reaching the mike"last of the booby trap"well dont we ll know if some booby trap is placed it was for termination of the enemy , well was he accusing deraturing party of a attemp of murder , or it was joke , We need to ask paxman , if we take it literally , Boris accused people of the opposite of planning to kill .. Same is remarks about "bori tayyar hai naap batao" , Altaaf hussain in the lighter vein just made remark. Also Farooq Sattar was wonderful , he said if money is found at a premises it does not automatically be of dubious means , let the investigation move on . Also about letter to Tony Blair , it was just a matter of agreementover fight gainst extremism and terrism. It was hugely disaapointing when Paxman had jsut to ask about Zohara Apa murder , he just could not mention about killings Muttahida has suffered since its inception ., mind you Zohra had already distant herself from PTI , PTI could not evem lodge a FIR , so much for their karkuns , shame on PTI. Farooq Sattar was wonderful and confident. I wish BBC goes into archives and braodcast , ishaq dar trail , proved by banks. It is such a shame when Pakistani media is speculating ,with really runaway imagination. I read from papers Imran Khans ex brother inlaw achestrated , all this iam sure paxman will regret it , when he will look back , that he was trapped for doing this program , it was just far below profesional standereds. Interviewing onesided witness , the ex MQM mpa must havebeen trown out for embazzlement of some kind , hw was playing his grudge and so was the police man . The houses in Altaaf`s name would eventually go to party and all funds for running the part , Altaff hussain his party are not so much fond of wrist watches in the tune of crores and Aramani suits. They sell by their honesty integrity hard work and meritocracy.
@YousufZai Actually MQM extortion is getting common in the US cities of Houston and Dallas. I personally came across few folks who first nicely asked, than firmly asked and later demanded money for some work in Karachi. It happens more often than you would know. I know few business owners from Karachi in Houston area and they get nasty extortion calls. Get real, the leader of middle and lower class living in posh areas of London with no income and 400k GBP sitting is good enough for you all to open eyes.
@Peace Seeker: Just like the courts free the terrorists since they cannot find credible witnesses/evidence.
@Khaki: Lol, "Boys go to PTI" "MEN to go MQM. and old but golden saying.
Nothing is gonna happen in the end.No arrest,No charges.The whole matter will be buried under the sand, mysteriously by London police.
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: Come up with something new it seems u have limited vocabulary.
@Arrow: Altaf Hussain u r proud of my city.
@Ahmed: Come on get out of your self dellusion and observer the reality which is vice versa to perception.
@Ali Tanoli: And, who killed the Ulema in Karachi?
Its not so much the MQM or Altaf Bhai who's image is at stake here, its the credibility of the British government and their law enforcement at stake.
@The Paki!: Ask me the question and i will give the answer.lol
@Peace Seeker: But the ring is no longer nowhere is to be seen?
@Asif Butt: Oh my God Mr. Aristotle who defeated the biggest sectarian hallmark of karachi named Aurangzeb Farooque of ASWJ in PS 128 in karachi. It was MQM who defeated the ASWJ in election not your Taliban apologatic defeated minded party who bycotted the election to accomodate the ASWJ. and now MQM a sectarian outfit. U need a brain therapy.
@TR: That is because no one dares testify against MQM.
@John: lol the property mentioned is the property of MQM not an indvidual and the MQM overseas unit make donations to run the Intl secetariat.
@Shahzad: After the election's result shock to the muslim shower cum Tsunami that was washout in the toilet of elections, This one sided propaganda documentary indeed was another shock to that muslim shower cum tsunami. I think the gang of thugs IK,LORD NAZEER,ZULFIQAR MIRZA and the english version of siddique salik GEORGE GALLOWAY couldn't able to prove their mark. Good luck next time.lol
@ yousufzai
Hats off for presenting a logical and rational response to those drooling over the potential comeuppance of mqm. As you put it rightly, mqm was not created in a mqm. While those who want to see mqm goes down are many, there are none who are willing to advicate the rights of karachi. Altaf Hussain may have his faults and mqm many shortcomings, unfortunately due ti the ethnic bias permeates the thoughts and actions of many criticising mqm on this forum, no credible alternative has emerged who advocates the rights of karachi, especially its right to have local self government. Hence, mqm, to the chagrin of many, will continue to survive.
@Ali Tanoli: I think u should report this to MetPolice this might be helpful for them.The accusation of Hakeem Saeed proved false in the court of law. It seems the judge was not your that relative.Insanity at its best
@Karachiwala: Just like Lyari Gangwar and Tabliban.crap
@Bewildered: Don't u worry son as u claim that karachities know what he does, yes karachities does know what Altaf Hussain does for the last 25 years by trying to give karachities what they deserve a sense of protection from the mass murders of different ethnic and mafia groups that are operating with the support of govt, and thats what exactly is the crime of Altaf Haussain that he is protecting his people from these thugs, If Altaf Hussain and MQM is not in karachi the butchers of Lyarei gangwar, Taliban would have butchered us as they did in the past. GA ALTAF.
When this story gets end . When they take some serious actions to against Altaf
Aysha M is a guy sitting in like god knows where. Probably has a facebook profile by that name and adds chicks too. (before you reply dude, "pics or it didn't happen").
Thank ALLAH that Express Tribune is now publishing accurate articles. Good job ET !! You will rise!
@SM: The only thing left was mentioning the "Paid Content".
@Shakir Lakhani: Glad to see so much MetPolice investigating officers on this forum
@Karachite: I think u should be the MetPolice chief.lol
I am mohajar of karachi. We dont support MQM due to its illegal practices. I pray that this case ends soon peacefully
MQM nearing its end. We welcome only peace loving members of MQM to PTI
Oh! He is still showing his fist!!!
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks:
I don't need to impress anybody. We are yousufzai whose ancestors moved to present day India 500 years ago and then to present day Pakistan. For the record, New Sindhis are not a homogenous group of people. but today I am just Pakistani and I take serious offense to any implications otherwise. Although I fail to see the relevance of this to the matter at hand, it's hard to reply to something when books have been written on the subject, none of which you have obviously read because you're apparently so busy hating.
Rampant assasinations and blackmailing are in fact why the party was formed, because the people being blackmailed and assasinated and discriminated against organized as a force to combat it. Look into the Sindhi Nationalist movements, Bhutto's quota system, disproportionate revenues/expenditure ratios of Karachi. Even just a couple of years ago, certain folks called Karachiites 'bhookay nangay' and issued hundreds of illegal and untracked arms licenses I don't understand why people have such a hard time grasping this concept?
I'd say a Karachi with a functioning traffic system, storm water and waste water management system, and a state of the art sustainable infrastructure development plan, effectively running an overwhelmed and underfunded city, and representation of the working, middle, and lower middle class are the hallmarks of the MQM, brother :)
I have been on commenting on Tribune for quite some time. A lot of things changed during this time but on thing didn't - the constant pro-MQM comments of @Ayesha M. She is defending MQM with total bias and labels all reporting that is against the party as bigoted and fueled by impartialness. You people don't need to convince her. She is a hopeless case and as one member pointed out, it is doubtful that she evens lives in Karachi considering her constant state of denial.
I wonder if MQM pays some of the posters for their comments?
@Asif Butt: "Altaf Hussain have to STOP PROMOTING SECTARIANISM." What kind of sectarianism?
@yousufzai: WOW, now the Mohajirs of Karachi are using the typical Pukhtun names, who are you trying to impress, we have seen what MQM has been doing for the last so many decades. It has become so called a political party so they should act as one but the record shows differently. Rampant assassinations, black mailing of people and business community is the hall mark of MQM. Hey, those who live by the sword die by the sword, take my words for it.
Altaf Hussain....you have failed this city!!
As far as the issues of the money found is concerned, the issue is being blown out of proportion. If it was for personal use or through illegal means, they would be in a swiss account like all the other Pakistani politicians, not in offices and homes.
It is no secret that the MQM has a large party slush fund, people not even in MQM circles are aware of that. MQM like in other matters is effective in fund-raising, they have offices around the world where supporters and well wishers make donations. You can make the argument that people are forced to in Karachi, but try forcing somebody to donate in Chicago or Sydney or even Riyadh.
The reason why MQM may have relatively wealthier MPs and such, is that they are honest about their incomes, and have had jobs and/or businesses of their own. If the other politicians were honest about their incomes, the MQM representatives income wouldn't even amount to peanuts.
@Faisal: Aysha M lives in denial. It doesn't really matter then if you happen to live either in Karachi or London.
@The Paki!: @AsifButt
I have offered you the answers, and I assure you that I did a litany of research prior to forming my opinions about the MQM.
Bori culture was not developed by the MQM, neither the parchi system, it was imposed on the urban people of Karachi who responded accordingly. These are infact very old schemes that have dominated the working styles of rural lords. As it stands right now, the only party for the middle class, by the middle class, is the MQM, a close second to some extent is the Jamat-e-Islami.
Attributing sectarianism to the MQM is rather absurd. The MQM is the single uniting force between Sunis and Shias. In fact, the only party to ever take a pro-active stance against sectarianism of any kind is only the MQM. It was called the 'Shias party' in the 90's because they didn't think Shias deserved to be slaughtered or marginalized. They expelled Amir Liaquat from the party because he perpetuated hatred against the group Pakistan loves to hate, the Ahmadis. All of this is mute of course if you are unfamiliar with what sectarianism actually means.
Nobody denies the turbulent times in which the MQM was formed, but the maturation and growth of the party is again unparalleled. Nobody has delivered anywhere in Pakistan like the MQM have in Karachi. If it were to use ethnic politics it would not have changed Mohajir to Muttahida and banned workers from chanting "Jiye Mohajir' at rallies.
It seems and I guess that NA 250 rigging and the follow up protests and complaints to London Police about threats by MQM leader did play a part in speeding up the investigations.
Its clears now our Media including ET are scary chicken who dare to show any thing wrong done by our political parties and there leaders what a shame on the name of freedom.
This news really made my day.. @ayesha I don't blame u for foolishly supporting MQM even when u urself know that its a terrorist organization. I think u are among millions of karachiites who r afraid that smthg bad might happen to them If they speak against mqm...be brave like the ppl of of NA 250!
@Aysha M: for your kind info, as per last reports, MQM has most millionaires in NA.. Its head is living most expensive place in the world spending millions on drinking alcohol and betting.. n u think it represent lower class?
2Asif Butt, Its not Aysha M, But in whole Pakistan we denies we got glases of hates look it our history when Uthmania Empire was declining we were doing the strikes in india to defend, When whole world knows Saddam hussain and Khomanis were wrong in there war but for us they were heros and funny thing both sides peoples were myrter haha, Gadafi was shaheed too for us, if one cursed in Arabic we think he is praying and start saying amin with him what else oh yeah Bhutto zinda hai he is alive and stupit peoples still votes for him and most truthfull thing is Bhutto is Ayub khan Pedawar so The Nawaz shrif and Altaf Hussain Gen Zia legacy....
@ Asif Butt
Actually these kind of blind supporters would never give you the answer to the question. They would rather try to make you more confuse by giving the impression that all the misdeeds and wrongful acts have been carried towards them. They would NEVER come to the point. Either they would make you confuse, or would say that MR X is also doing the same thing, why don't you criticize him.
This is one of the way of these guys to confiscate the truth and to spread their wrong ideologies, in the name of becoming a so called middle class champions; of which they are exactly opposite.
400,000 GBP? And they still state that they belong to middle class. How can one be so naive and ignorant I don't get this point.
@Ayesha M Do you live in Karachi or London?. I don't think you know the reality of Karachi. :P
@Aysha M:
Yesterday you were denying news in Pakistan , today you are denying western media reports . Tomorrow you will deny your own reflection in the mirror.
Keep pretending and keep defending MQM. Carry on with your testimony to Altaf Hussains holiness as if you are his right shoulder angel writing in his account book.
MQM and Altaf Hussain have to STOP PROMOTING SECTARIANISM.
The problem is as simple as that.
The people following MQM are innocent and in need of a unified Pakistan. Not some distinct ID card trying to act different.
@Ali Tanoli: Check your facts: MQM has been acquitted in Hakeem Saeed case.
So now i am wondering,from where did supposed leader of the "middle class" got 400,000 pounds?As he claims,he has no source of income but owns properties in some of the most Posh areas of U.K.... Man,dont i just wish i was as middle class as "bhai"
@Aysha M "a genuine political party with interests of lower middle and middle class people of Pakistan fundamental to its functions"
Lolzz .. good joke! I can easily smell the biasness from your comments.
You and Mqm are weeping for just their 3 parliamentarians, what about 1000s of people who have been killed/effected by Mqm's so called JanNissars?? Parchi maafia?? Who introduced Borri system?? They deserve what Nawaz Shareef did with Mqm in his last regime.
if you see out of your "Altaf bhai" shell you will come to know the reality. 1000s of so called "middle class" killers (i belong to same class, but i am not a killer) with heavy guns just do what they want .. Who introduced Borri culture?? and you say "every political party has some problems" Com'on! You must be wise enough to distinguish between "Political party" and "Terrorist party"
Just search in google "MQM Target Killer Yasir Dada-250 people killed" and you will see one representative of theirs
Mqm is nothing more then bunch of jokers who are good for nothing and responsible for destroying my Karachi! I feel pity on those who consider them a political party.
This had to be on of the most amateurish documentaries I have seen, second only to the misinformation that propagated in the run up to the Iraq war.
All of the speech exerpts were totally taken out of context. When he responds to perpetual allegations and propaganda with a sarcastic 'bori' remark, they present it as though he meant it seriously and that it's a matter of policy. I'm honestly dumbfounded.
Secondly, the MQM does not operate in a vacuum. MQM was not formed because people were sittting around bored and decided to kill people, it was a people's response to opression and ethnic clensing. And in that, it is to date, the most genuine and remarkable grass-roots phenomenon with unprecedented mobilizing ability that challenged the status quo and the feudal politics that still dominate Pakistan. The same feudalism, which ironically enough, was a parting preasant left by the British themselves.
They also fail to mention that the MQM is the most professional and the most organized parties in Paksitan. The members and leaders are the most representative of not just the people of Karachi but all of Pakistan. Considering all the internal and exogenous pressures on Karachi, it was the most effectively run city not just in Pakistan but in all of Central and South Asia. It would have imploded had anybody else been in charge, and that is a matter agreed upon by a vast array of professionals and academics who know anything about the subject.
Perhaps it's not the perfect party, but please, let's be realistic and give credit where it's due, and call a poorly made coumentary what it is. Poorly made.
@ ayesha...
Then by your defination BBC would have to mention the names of all the assassinated people Like following,
Workers of other parties(including key positions), Social Workers, Media Persons, Businessmen, Scholors, Army men, Etc
The list was soo long that they had to skip the 3 MPAs...
Or
May be the MPAs were killed delibrately by their own party...(e.g Imran Farooq)
@Shahzad: Why blame media alone, why cant the powerful army or independent judiciary does anything to release 20million hostages. Political immaturity at its best
@Zuhaib Khan: ET will never. Same treatment they did with me also. They are afraid of back lash of MQM. So JA APNI HASRATON PAY AANSU BHA KAY SO JA:
Sleepless nights. Someone in London testing his own medicin....
@Ammar: How could BBC not mention MQM losing 3 parliamentarians, do you consider that impartial
Kudoos to BBCNewnight and shame on our media. Our media can print 10 stories against PTI each day but won't say a word against the biggest mafia in today's world that is keeping hostage around 20 million people in a city. What a shame, utter shame!
Hakeem M saeed got murdered like any opponent of MQM one of my realatives child from muhajir wife got killed by his MQM friend because he was member of those thugs and killers he wasnot got man either....
The BBC programme did not reflect on the 15000 MQM workers who have been killed through state operations, workers having faced brutal torture through the 1990s, and mass anti-MQM propaganda that the party has gone through in the last 20 years, propaganda which can easily contribute to the masses believing in lies about the party. It is obvious that the BBC report was lazily done, without showing the complete picture. This is not the BBC that once used to be in the 90s and I am not saying it due to this programme but the way it has changed in the last 10 years.
it really made me laugh out loudly, Farooq Sitar says BBC is working under/for pro-taliban elements
@Bewildered: METPolice is totally independent of any government pressure, so rest assured the case will proceed to its logical end. All looking forwrad to it. MQM will be absolved
the best question in BBC documentary was "When Altaf Hussain says he is going to tear out somebody’s abdomen, is he planning to do so personally?" :-D
@Aysha M:
Reality has a well known anti-mqm/altaf bias.
@Ammar: @SM: All political parties have some issues. MQM has matured into a genuine political party with interests of lower middle and middle class people of Pakistan fundamental to its functions. This cannot be denied. Karachi witnessed maximum peace and prosperity when their political mandate was for once translated into administrative mandate. Karachi needs Mustafa Kamal back in action with policing under him. MQM is the way forward against the forces of status quo.
@Aysha M: You people can only play that card in Pakistan! The thousands of "innocent" MQM workers killed were actually responsible for killing other innocent people or political opponents. So please lets just stick to the facts. Its nit the 90s anymore!
Altaf bhai got a bit too over-confident it seems.
London police are the biggest saviors of the people of Karachi.
@ dear webdesk, May I know why my comment didn't get published ? Show some guts to publish comments when they are not abusive. I hope, you are not MQM paid or feared journalist.
British Police and BBC are there to protect British People and welfare. Nothing to do for solving Pak People problems!!! So please do not be so hopeful..
The "End Game" has begun..
@Aysha M:
"Nothing new reported here."
Absolutely right. Nothing new in it. People of Pakistan in general, and people of Karachi in particular, already know what he does for living, and what he has done during the last 25 years or so with the Karachi businessmen and his opponents. Unfortunately for Altaf Hussain, London Metropolitan Police is bit different than Pakistani Police. I sincerely hope that the British government does not get blackmailed, or suppress investigations against him for her political or strategic goals.
They hosted the first ever show which showed ample guts to speak the truth. Your comments show ur twisted mind. If MQM workers are killed, it doesnt justify the 1000s being killed by MQM.
Total irrational and illogical comment.
@Ayesha.
The analysis was impartial and objective...can't you just see the massacre of Karachites is being going on by so called Na Maloom afraad in Karachi. ..
for God Sake stop him ruining our future. ..
Voice of Karachi is to end this ongoing violence ASAP...
London Metropolitan Police, Please arrest him it will be a big big favour on us......
@Aysha M: You are biased and wrong. MQM is a bunch of thugs. Stop pretending they are not; either that or you got your head deep in the sand.
"money laundering and provocation to torture": let's hope he is found guilty of several murders as well! It would be the biggest Eid gift to the people of this city!
Nothing new reported here. The details above are made known ample number of times. BBC which stands for impartial and objective analysis presented a disappointing show last night. Why was BBC unable to say that there was extra judicial killings of thousands of MQM workers, also that NQM was absolved in cases such as Hakeem Saeed. There should have been a balance in their version of reporting, which is expected of this broadcasting corporation.
Sometimes it is difficult to believe what they report. They had a whole show on Ishaq Dar's money laundering case, dont know what happened to that
stop investigating, just arrest this crook. Fed up of mqm's so called 'karkunaan' defending him. What a shame that was last night in BBC. Just arrest him please