PHOTO: AFP
In a surprising turn of events, the Scotland Yard announced on Monday that it was cancelling the bail of six men, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and two other party members, in a money-laundering case. It also said that the six men were no longer required to report to the police.
Despite the cancellation of bail, a spokesperson for the London Metropolitan Police told The Express Tribune that investigations into the allegations would continue and further action would be taken as needed.
Money laundering case: MQM chief exempted from appearing before Scotland Yard
“Bail cancellation means that these men are not required to come to the police station anymore as they were required to do so earlier during their bail,” she explained.
The three other men whose bail had been cancelled include businessmen Sarfaraz Merchant, and two individuals Yasin Haji and Latif Jiwa.
The move came just hours before the MQM chief and party members Tariq Mir and Mohammed Anwar were due to appear at the South London police station on Tuesday (today) to seek extensions in their bail in connection with the money-laundering case dating back to July 2013.
According to a statement issued by the party, London police had notified the MQM chief of the development on Monday.
“At the time of writing, there is insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge against Altaf Hussain and his colleagues,” the party quoted the police notification.
“There is no need for any of you [Altaf, Mir, Anwar] to attend the police station. The bail conditions currently in place are therefore removed.”
The party said Altaf had reacted to the news with relief and reiterated that he had no involvement in money-laundering.
Money-laundering investigations had been launched after a considerable amount of cash was discovered at Altaf’s residence and office on December 6, 2012, during raids in connection with the investigation of the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq, a founding member of the MQM who was stabbed to death in London in September 2010.
Later, the MQM supremo was arrested on June 3, 2014, as part of the money-laundering investigation. However, he was released on bail four days later.
Since then, his bail had been extended five times.
He was due to appear before the police on Tuesday to seek a sixth extension in his bail.
On January 30, the MQM surpemo formed a supreme council – a nine-member executive body – which would take charge of the party under ‘extraordinary’ circumstances such as the absence of the party chief due to police detention.
The council includes loyalists such as Nadeem Nusrat, Dr Farooq Sattar, Farogh Naseem and others. The council also includes a cousin of the MQM chief, Iftikhar Hussain, who had also been investigated by Scotland Yard as part of Dr Imran Farooq murder probe, but was later released.
MQM to stage protests in Karachi over gag order on Altaf Hussain
Meanwhile MQM leaders such as Dr Farooq Sattar, Wasay Jalil, Rauf Siddiqui have all reached London in order to support their leader.
Jubilations
The news of Altaf’s bail being cancelled was met with jubilation by MQM workers.
MQM leader Wasay Jalil in London said that dozens of people had gathered at the party’s London secretariat for celebrations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2016.
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