MQM chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP
Thousands of complaints were sent to the London metropolitan police after Altaf addressed his supporters in Karachi where he allegedly threatened PTI supporters who were protesting against rigging.
Altaf also said that Karachi should be separated from Pakistan if the mandate given to the MQM by the people is not acceptable.
The statements created an uproar across the country, after which the party clarified saying Altaf's statements were rhetorical, and misinterpreted by the media.
Thomson said that the London police are looking into the complaints and may take action soon.
“Under British laws promoting hatred and violence is liable to punishment and Altaf Hussain’s statements must be taken seriously.” he said.
The high commissioner added that, "unlike some countries in the world, the British police are fiercely independent of British government. And it is for the British police to investigate allegations of incitement to violence or incitement to hatred."
Altaf has apparently retracted or denied his statement, Thomson further said.
On Tuesday, reports emerged of Altaf being unwell. Doctors advised him to pause all political activity for a few days and take bed rest.
COMMENTS (120)
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Altaf Hussain is the leader of majority of Karachities and whatever he speaks must be given respect.
@Water Bottle: Ofcourse there was no crime. Like there was no rigging. Also, there are no weapons in Khi and MQM is a peaceful democratic party. Its just PTI's sore losers crying. This is proven by the fact JI, JUI and other parties are not protesting at all.
Do something about it.Please
I am unable to understand when Baluch leaders from all corners of the world declare that they no longer want to remain a part of the federation, it is not reprimanded but there is talk of redress and remedy. All Mr. Altaf Hussain said that IF MQM mandate is not unacceptable then federation can think of detaching Karachi, he didn’t like Baluch leaders announce a need to separate or put head money like Baluch leaders do.
NO.....i did not give my comments before,please post my comments.
@grunt: "The UK doesn’t usually tolerate people based on its soil to publicly incite OR ALLUDE to violence."
Are you sure of that? Have you heard some of the Friday sermons in Britain? Separately what about Pakistan? Any thoughts about people on Pakistani soil threatening violence against India and even geting coverage in Pakistani media on top of that?
it might be just a statement made by uk police to stop us making the calls to them , so i suggest we keep on a follow up on the complaints we launched...
i hope they do take action and its not a mere statement...
@Amer: ask them to investigate the open threat he gave last night in protest outside ECP as well
@Sarmad: you consider a conditional sentence to be a complete evidence ?
@gp65: I don't know you why this news is hurting you more than anyone else and
stop violence in kashmir no one will "THREATEN" you again
@Salman I agree. People of Pakistan were not stupid in 1970/71 either:)
ET: Pls. allow my statement it is completely relevant to the topic under discussion and meets all your published guidelines.
@Parvez: "The British government’s behaviour on this matter appears doggy."
So if a UK citizen incites violence against Pakistanis, UK courts should take cognizance - right? What about when a Pakistani citizen (HAfiz Saeed, Zaid Hamid) openly calls for violence against India? Should Pakistani courts take cognizance? Or do you support double standards?
@Raj - USA: Altaf Hussain lives in UK and is a British citizen. In effect, it is a British citizen threatening violence in Pakistan. I don't think his statement about separation of Karachi would attract attention of British law.
@Jim: Based on discrimination or hiding poll rigging drama? People of pakistan are not stupid
@Jade:
Thank you Jade:) A while back I was discussing that I need to find laws in relation to his hatred and inciting to disorder speech.
@I am a Khan: Does Alex Salmond has Dual Nationality?
@Kaptaan Khan: agreed !
@samonrusty: Millions? Are you on medication? If you add up MQM's total votes against those of the "mummy daddy" crowd, it's almost a ratio of 100,000 to 1. Get a life, Karachi is and always will be an MQM entity.
The British government's behaviour on this matter appears doggy.
What a bunch of naive simpleton (otherwise known as PTI followers) thinking the british government is going to send altaf to jail for asking for separation of 'karachi'. For god's sake there are people in britain shouting 'death' to UK and nothing happens to them! Get real! LOL!
Great News...
I trust UK judicy ..well done
Britain is the land of equality where every citizen is given justice. Will the government of Britain ensure grant of justice to 18 million people of Pakistan against its citizen Mr Iltaf Hussain who promoted hatred and violence in Pakistan for demanding Karachi a separate country. People of Pakistan are looking forward to the jurist of England for execution of justice.
To all those who advise there was no violation of UK law, kindly note that the threats which Mr Hussain made and the hated spread falls foul of the following UK laws:
Under section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1998 it is an offence to send an indecent, offensive or threatening letter, electronic communication or other article to another person or persons and sections 85 Postal Services Act 2000 or s127 Communications Act 2003 there are similar specific offences relating to sending postal or telephone messages which are indecent offensive or threatening. Both offences are punishable with up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine. Because the Malicious Communications Offence is more wide ranging than the Telecommunications offence it is more likely to be charged by the Police than the Postal Services or Communications Act offences.
In most cases involving malicious communications however there will be more than one offensive or threatening letter or telephone call and therefore the police will often choose to charge the offender with an offence contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Part of the reason for using this charge is that when someone is convicted of an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act the court can make a Restraining Order preventing them from contacting their victim again. Breach of a Restraining Order is punishable with up to Five years imprisonment. A Restraining Order cannot be imposed for a conviction under the Postal Services or Communications Act offences.
If the messages e-mails, phone calls etc cause the victim to fear that violence will be used against them then the police can choose to charge the offender with an offence contrary to section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which is punishable with up to Five years imprisonment and also allows the court to make a Restraining Order.
Why are these applicable to Altaf? Well, in general terms provided the offensive message was either sent from within England and Wales or was received within England and Wales then an offence has been committed which the police and the courts in England and Wales can deal with.
Deal with it! I'm sure the Met Police will
Have a great day :)
ws one of the callers!!!haha!!i feel proud today
another way of thinking
I hope, I am not going to offend anyone if I do please accept my apology.
Don't you think It is a pity to complain against a person who is a leader of a party in our country and we are complaining to the British authorities and are "happy", does not it shows our weak judicial and democratic system OR we don't trust our "democracy" / "judiciary" at all. (I feel shame though)
While people are happy, I am sad that we can not complain to our judiciary and other rulers and asking/expecting help/justice from British government and are believing that we will get justice.
I pray from ALLAH s.w.t that a day will come we choose an honest person and we can complain against anyone to him or our judiciary INSHA'Allah and action will be taken.
Please google "india italy marines case" read this, how they dealt with this (I am not Indian :) )
From
A proud Pakistan
The most important and critical part of the British High Commissioner statement in Pakistan is, "... and Altaf Hussain's statement's must be taken seriously ". Altaf Hussain is internationalising a domestic issue with grave consequences for Pakistan. Britain has its own national interests which may not necessarily be the same as that of Pakistan. There is a need to consider such statements in a wholesome context and not in isolation.
@Water Bottle: "And in the case of Altaf Hussain, they simply have no jurisdiction."
He is a UK citizen living in London, so they do have jurisdiction. Rest of your points are valid though.
@Naveen: "Democratic dissent should be respected."
Not sure if you have heard the speech. He said that 'if our mandate is not respected, karachi mein aag laga doonga and the fire will spread to rest of Pakistan also'. This is not democratic dissent, it is threat of violence. Given the fact that even the CJ of Pakistan has admitted that all 3 leading political parties in Karachi (of which MQM is one) has armed mafias, such statements cannot be taken lightly. If you notice even the High Comissioner refers to threat of violence, not so much the other part where he talked about separating Karachi from Pakistan.
JIYAAAAAAAA ALTAF HUSSAIN (AMEEN)
British High Commissioner sounds (reminds) of Mr Rehman Malik who for 5 years kept on taking "notices" and did nothing.
First it was Imran Khan himself, who pursued a case in the British court against Altaf Hussain: result..... FAILED miserably!
Then it was our favorite man from Badin, Zulfiqar Mirza who went to Scotland Yard with 2 Suitcases full of evidence against Altaf Hussain: Result........... FAILED MISERABLY again and also got beaten up by some thugs in the land of the queen.
And now our very own PTI supporters and PTI trolls against Altaf Hussain: Result... Pending ... Please get over it. Do not vent your anger upon Altaf Hussain. You failed to make your Naya Pakistan all over the country.. especially Punjab. Now kindly stick to facts and stop trolling British authorities.
You guys are all believing this!?!?!?!? All topi drama by Brits... If they wanted to do something about altaf they would have found something he did or said against British law in the last 15 years. This is just to show majority Pakistanis that they are on your side and you guys all believed it. Stop being so naive.
Nothing is going to happen. Altaf being a free citizen of UK can speak against anybody. Its the actions that matters. He has not taken any gun or bombs to threaten Pakistan.............Looks like the high commissioner has gone overboard. Perhaps wants to be in the good books of Nawaz Sharif.
Folks, I believe it’s a legal issue too that a British Citizen headed a so called political party overseas. If someone can educate me whether or not a foreigner can head a Pakistani political organization under the Constitution of Pakistan?
@I am a Khan: You clearly do not know ABC of history do you? Please first read history of Scotland and then comment. Going by your logic we should give residency to Afghan refugees and later give them a right of secession in Peshawar? Scotland has separate currency, culture and was a separate state still ruled by their own parliament.
"have turned the symbolic Teen Talwar into real swords on one order of mine" - Altaf
Will any mqm supporter clarify this? Or are you saying he didn't say that?
Don't tell me what it actually means, because it's very clear that this is a direct threat to the people who were gathered at 3 swords to protest.
As the British act of offences against the person, section 16 clearly mentions threats to kill punishment. I hope this law applies to all and is still in service.
@mrs ahmed: and btw.. phainta doesn't come near to "chalni karna"......i can give my son a phainta if he would misbehave but would never dare say that i would "chalni" you .... got it!
@mrs ahmed: Imran isn't a British citizen...end of story...
@Amer: bro is it just to call any police station and make a complain about it i would love to do that i did nt even know
Try all you want. Imran Khan failed, Zulfiqar Mirza failed, and the fialures continues till today. My Leader remains unharmed, but the your failure continues :-)
ET, please correct - it's London Police Commissioner, NOT the British high commissioner. The latter is a diplomatic post; British high commissioners are the heads of British high commissions in foreign capitals.
@readers Altaf is being investigated for his incitement of hatred and violence, NOT his sentiment for Karachi's separation.
Big difference regarding Scottish independence. SNP campaigned on a manifesto promising a referendum on independence. MQM made no such mention in their campaign. Second scotland was originally a separate country and technically still is in many matters such as law, education and sport. Karachi has never been a separate country.
finally good news!
@Hahaha: Don't know which is worse, the fact that you consider Altaf Hussain a Sindhi or the fact that so far your comment has 5 recommends.
What is wrong with you guys? He's a Political leader of a party which contests elections. Democratic dissent should be respected. What do you want these people to do? Take to arms and go underground for their rights.
Whassamatter? JInnah could ask for a partition on the basis of discrimination he perceived but Altaf can't?
@I am a Khan: oh wonderfully valid argument
@Justiceprevails: yes sure when they will look deeply they would find nothing , Altaff said if our mendate is so muh of a problem just disconnect us from Pakistan .. if imraan says phainta lagaoon ga it is fine if ALtaaf leader of poor masses says few popular salogans all the elements of oppression who are happy in dynastic politics . Remember nawaz sharif during restoration of aboo arsaln instigated olice official on civil disobedience
My complaint number is CHS10076, registered on May 13, 2013.
@I am a Khan: Pakistan is not the United Kingdom and Karachi is not Scotland. So that's just plain nonsense.
@Justiceprevails:
I think Pakistanis need to wake up if they think justice is never denied in the land of the Queen!! This is a perception, reality on ground is different and so subtlety twisted that you have to live here to realize it. The double standard and prejudiced behavior is apparent when you consider the fact that if any one of us living here or in Europe and dares to speak against the holocaust or even label Blair and Bush as war criminals have a case to answer in the Courts of justice of the Queen :(. Also consider the case of 'Lord' Nazir Ahmad.
It would appear that promoting violence is against British law but not Pakistani law - another thing you should fix.
@The Express Tribune: When you say "allegedly threatened," are you telling me that none of your reporters or editors heard those words come out of Altaf Hussain's mouth when he made those threats which were aired on many news channels (including yours) and the recordings of which have been widely shared on social media? I salute the free and brave media for taking such a strong stance.
@Amer:
"Alhamdulliah. I am one of the callers to London Met Police and I will surely follow up everyday on my complain now."
Would you be hurt if I called you an ignorant person?
London police cannot and will not do anything to Altaf Hussain. Altaf Hussain can sit on the Big Ben and shout "death to Pakistan, Death to Imran Khan", the police may arrest him for climbing the Big Ben but they won't even ask about what he said.
You live in London and do not know the law?
@Sarmad:
"Its a test for British Judiciary/police. All the evidence is available. Let’s see what they will do"
There is no crime committed in the first place. Are you Pakistanis so dumb that you cannot see that no crime has been committed in the first place here?
If you give a complaint to the police about such silly matters where they have absolutely no jurisdiction, they will TAKE NOTICE of your complaint. And then drop it in the dustbin.
@Justiceprevails: @Paindoo: @GudNews:
"This news just made my day."
"Looks like the thousands of calls to Scotland Yard paid off!! Great work Pakistanis :)"
"Goo London. Justice is never denied in the land of the queen."
I think you people are hoping for something that doesn't exist. Scotland yard cannot do anything in this regard.
Are you kidding me?
Muslim extremists and terrorists sit in their mosques in London and preach hatred towards london. The same extremists come to streets of London and shout death to England. The same extremists beat up white (christians) when they venture into muslim dominated areas (watch these interesting videos on Youtube).
London is a country if wimps. Scotland Yard police is weaker than Congress government in India.
And in the case of Altaf Hussain, they simply have no jurisdiction.
First it was zulfikar mirza then lord nazeer then imran khan . now again imran khan and the list of sore losers goes on.
what a drama... of course your unwell but its too late
@I am a Khan:
There is no comparison between Karachi-Pakistan and Scotland - United Kingdom situations.
Scotland shares a long and bitter history with England (which is now the center of the UK) while there has never been any issue between Karachi and the rest of Pakistan.
Scotland is a state (in simple words) of the United Kingdom while Karachi is not a state of Pakistan.
Scotland will not get independence because people have realised that they wont be able to live off their own. If Karachi becomes independent it will become a banana republic within hours.
Karachi needs Pakistan and Pakistan needs Karachi. Neither can survive without each other. End of Story - I hate anyone who talks about division of Pakistan.
Its a test for British Judiciary/police. All the evidence is available. Let's see what they will do
I am unable to understand why altaf hussain’s statements are always misunderstood by normal people. Why it is necessary to be MQM supporter to understand the true meaning of his message.
I dont think that there is any law against asking for more freedom. Otherwise, all the leaders of Kashmir, Palestine, Kosovo, Easter Timor, South Sudan and Ex Soviet states will have arrest warrants against them.
What remains to be seen is whther this is just another political gimmick to squash constant phone calls from inundating police phone lines OR would it followed through to a decision fit for the educated class in Khi.
@ I am a Khan: "Rigged" referendum, eh?
NOthing will happen
Alhamdulliah. I am one of the callers to London Met Police and I will surely follow up everyday on my complain now.
O jee i didnot say that like bush never said crusad word ??????
Complaints put forwarded by anti-MQM elements to London metropolitan police could not be more than hundred of hundreds kilo-grams evidences against Mr. Altaf Hussain presented by Mr. Imran Khan to Scotland-yard authorities. So I think it will be a worthless exercise again. A clarification has been appeared in media regarding Mr. Altaf's controversial statement that was misapprehended. Therefore, such chapter should have been closed.
Happy Days for Pakistanis...)
Hatts off to my Pakistani brothers...who did this great job May Allah bless you and give you strength to raise your voice for justice.
Altaf Hussain is a great Sindhi leader and Pakistan must respect him.
Hahahahahaha. As if this could change. !!!! British court is not stupid like PAK court. They know how to interpret statements.
i dont know how his statements can be misinterpreted, sounded pretty clear to me.
I am just visiting England for a week and what a warm welcome respect to British people. Pakistan police should learn from English police.
Yeh Cheez... Now thats we called a DEMOCRATIC NEWS :)
ET please publish this. I am one of these thousands who complained yesterday. The reference number for my complaint was CHS10312-14 May.
Just one question....Would Mr. Altaf Hussain threaten the people gathered at TEEN TALWAR if all of them were UK citizens...? Because we are Pakistanis we are not respected by our people...!
About time the British Govt. reacted.
Change has started
Well SNP leader Alex Salmond is driving a campaign to separate Scotland from the UK and the UK government has agreed to a referendum in 2014. Even though Altaf Bhai has clarified his stance that he does not want to separate Karachi from Pakistan, but even if he wanted to separate Karachi, this cannot warrant his arrest in the UK. If MQM has a majority in Karachi, they can ask for a referendum on whether the people of Karachi want to be independent of Pakistan or not, similar to the SNP having a majority in Scotland and they are having a referendum about whether the Scottish people want an independent Scotland or want to remain part of the UK.
Bismillah hogai! well done Insafians, we will take our Karachi back from NaMaloom Afraad!
I wish we had such a system in Pakistan too where any one's complaint could put you on the backfoot. Here complaining against the powerful turn them more hostile.
Power of Naye Pakistanis! :)
Goo London. Justice is never denied in the land of the queen.
As Mr. Hussain is a British citizen, the London police should question him on his hidden intentions and bring them in light and should give him a serious public reprimand.
This news just made my day.
Looks like the thousands of calls to Scotland Yard paid off!! Great work Pakistanis :)