London police return MQM chief's passport

Move comes two weeks after Altaf Hussain was exempted from appearing before London police in money laundering case

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain retrieved his passport on Tuesday following cancellation of bail in a money laundering case earlier this month.

On February 1, the bail of the party's supremo was cancelled in the case, exempting him from appearing before London’s Metropolitan Police during future proceedings in the case.



There was, however, no confirmation if his bank accounts were also restored which were seized along with the passport after the investigation was initiated.

While confirming the development, party’s spokesperson Aminul Haque said returning of the passport was actually a proof that the allegations of money laundering were false, and termed it a testament to Altaf’s innocence.

London police had cited 'insufficient evidence' in the case leading to cancellation of bail, but it had denied that the charges were dropped.



On October 6 2015, the leader of the Karachi-based party was granted bail for the fifth time since beginning of the investigation over undocumented cash found at the MQM London office in December 2012.

The MQM founder had arrived in the UK in January 1992 seeking asylum after he escaped the country following an ‘assassination’ attempt. He was subsequently awarded a British passport in 2002.