Allegations against MQM: FIA elicits evidence from key accusers
Meeting of former mayor with FIA authorities expected within 24 hours
Mustafa Kamal. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established contact with Karachi’s ex-mayor Mustafa Kamal and trader Sarfaraz Merchant in connection with the allegations levelled by the two men against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s top leadership, sources said.
Upon his surprise return from self-exile earlier this month, Kamal had accused MQM chief Altaf Hussain of having links with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and had claimed that the party had been receiving funds from the agency.
FIA seeks Kamal, Merchant's help to probe allegations against MQM
Sources close to the FIA said on Saturday that the FIA Sindh Director Shahid Hayat contacted Kamal and invited him to cooperate with the FIA team, which is probing the alleged involvement of the party’s top leadership in criminal activities. Kamal, however, insisted that he had not been contacted as yet.
Sources said a meeting of Kamal with the FIA authorities is expected within the next 24 hours.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has been inviting Mustafa Kamal to share his evidence with the FIA team in his recent press conferences but this is the first time that the FIA has made contact with him on the issue.
Earlier, the interior minister had said the former nazim had not given any documentary evidence against the MQM and termed his claims as verbal accusations.
Sources in the unnamed party formed by Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani told reporters that they were ready to cooperate with the FIA only if the officials come to them. “They will be sharing proofs and issuing statements but will not appear before any authority with regard to the case,” said a source.
Breakaway faction: Two more MQM stalwarts jump ship
Kamal served as Karachi’s city nazim from 2005 to 2010 and he was highly appreciated for implementing a number of infrastructural projects in the metropolis. However, he left Pakistan in 2013 and also resigned from the Senate after he developed differences with Altaf Hussain
Meanwhile, FIA director Inam Ghani also contacted Sarfaraz Merchant – a close aide to MQM leader Muhammad Anwar – and invited him to come to Pakistan. Merchant told him that he would decide to do so next Monday (March 14) after consulting his legal advisers, sources said.
Merchant – also a co-accused in the money laundering case being investigated in London against the MQM leadership – had alleged in a TV interview that the MQM was involved in money laundering and criminal activities and had connection with India’s main spy agency.
After the interview, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had constituted an FIA committee to investigate the charges levelled by him.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2016.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established contact with Karachi’s ex-mayor Mustafa Kamal and trader Sarfaraz Merchant in connection with the allegations levelled by the two men against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s top leadership, sources said.
Upon his surprise return from self-exile earlier this month, Kamal had accused MQM chief Altaf Hussain of having links with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and had claimed that the party had been receiving funds from the agency.
FIA seeks Kamal, Merchant's help to probe allegations against MQM
Sources close to the FIA said on Saturday that the FIA Sindh Director Shahid Hayat contacted Kamal and invited him to cooperate with the FIA team, which is probing the alleged involvement of the party’s top leadership in criminal activities. Kamal, however, insisted that he had not been contacted as yet.
Sources said a meeting of Kamal with the FIA authorities is expected within the next 24 hours.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has been inviting Mustafa Kamal to share his evidence with the FIA team in his recent press conferences but this is the first time that the FIA has made contact with him on the issue.
Earlier, the interior minister had said the former nazim had not given any documentary evidence against the MQM and termed his claims as verbal accusations.
Sources in the unnamed party formed by Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani told reporters that they were ready to cooperate with the FIA only if the officials come to them. “They will be sharing proofs and issuing statements but will not appear before any authority with regard to the case,” said a source.
Breakaway faction: Two more MQM stalwarts jump ship
Kamal served as Karachi’s city nazim from 2005 to 2010 and he was highly appreciated for implementing a number of infrastructural projects in the metropolis. However, he left Pakistan in 2013 and also resigned from the Senate after he developed differences with Altaf Hussain
Meanwhile, FIA director Inam Ghani also contacted Sarfaraz Merchant – a close aide to MQM leader Muhammad Anwar – and invited him to come to Pakistan. Merchant told him that he would decide to do so next Monday (March 14) after consulting his legal advisers, sources said.
Merchant – also a co-accused in the money laundering case being investigated in London against the MQM leadership – had alleged in a TV interview that the MQM was involved in money laundering and criminal activities and had connection with India’s main spy agency.
After the interview, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had constituted an FIA committee to investigate the charges levelled by him.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2016.