MQM chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: MQM
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain revealed that the British government has frozen all his bank accounts in the United Kingdom.
In an interview with a private news channel on Saturday, he said, “I face money laundering and other cases, which have not been presented in court so far. And without any proof, the British government has sealed all my bank accounts.”
The MQM chief admitted that the British authorities had conducted raids at his house and at his office. “No lawyer is willing to come forward because they are afraid of the British establishment. But I will continue to fight and face everything alone.” He said the British government can put him in jail and kill him but he will ‘continue to speak the truth’. “If I have to die, then why not in Pakistan?”
Regarding his national identity card, Altaf said he has warts on his legs and feet and therefore, cannot walk properly. However, he managed to come to the MQM’s secretariat in London where Nadra officials carried out the procedure.
“Now they are saying the data has gone corrupt? Do the prime minister and the interior minister want me to beg for my Pakistaniat (Pakistani identity)? I don’t want this charity from them.” He said he was disappointed with the Sindh governor for remaining silent in the recent meeting with Nawaz Sharif. “They were putting false accusations on us, but the governor did not say anything and remained quiet.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2014.
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Altar Bhai is becoming irrelevant. Please I am requesting Altaf Bhai to leave Politics and quit MQM. Your departure will start the improvement that the Party needs and wants. May Allah give give you wisdom to leave with some dignity, Ameen.
@Farooq Ahsan: Leaders of Pakistan are not allowed to keep dual nationalities let alone living in asylum for 20+ years, which he took for personal gains, and now when he has to face the music in London for his deeds. He wants to die in Pakistan? why didnt he think about the dying part before he ran? I wonder what do you call a leader, a Phone?
They should give him the passport and cnic in order to avoid violence in Karachi, British police will probably put his name on ecl so that he can't get out the country
I am shocked at the hate mail? See what propaganda does. Perhaps this is freedom to hate. What a shame really?
This seems a malicious typical PML and JI sponsored report evident from the effort divide a wedge between Altaf and the governor.
Jamathi's and NL prayers are being answered I guess. Do what you want, Jamathi's are not going to be elected. They have been the Political Spokesman of the Devils who have murdered at will. People of Pakistan are not going to forgive your actions all these years. You spread hatred instead of love. You create divisions instead of unity. Leadership spreads love unlike JIs. Even if Altaf goes JI will remain the loser like it or not. Adieu.
Just goes to show that your deeds catch up with you sooner or later.
paisa no problem
Agree with Sandip.
Just goes to show that all the hijrat from India was in vain. The ones who fought least for partition are the ones enjoying the most.
it is sad, here is someone karachiites trusted and voted everytime for the last many decades and turns out he betrayed us in this way. Unfortunately, like any dictator he has left no room for opposition in karachi's urdu speaking community
Proves that Pakistan is a safe haven for people of all 'professions'.
What is wrong with his British Passport ? Why does he need a Pakistani Passport all of a sudden after 25 years ? I have a feeling that his guy is trying to find refuge in Pakistan, as the British government is making his life hard in London. Once in Pakistan, Altaf will create problems, if the British authorities demand his extradition back to London after the British investigations are complete. Its better for Pakistan if Altaf stays in London, Altaf creates troubles everywhere he goes.
ET Where is my comment?
And in next interview, he himself will tell that his name is being english citizen, he could not leave UK, hence Pakistani identity. It seems that peace in Karachi is not too far now.
This is nature’s way of justice!! Altaf Hussain had declared creation of Pakistan as blunder of history (ref: his speech in India, November 2004) and wrote a letter to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to disband ISI in Pakistan (ref: his letter of 23rd September 2001). He has been living in the most expensive property in uptown Mill Hill London but has no verifiable source of income. On pulling a “switch” from London, the entire city of Karachi is shut down on the advice (read: threat) of Altaf Hussain Londonvi. He has been coalition partner of the governments of Musharraf and then Zardari for more than 10 years. He lived in Pakistan for 40 years but continued calling himself a mohajir. On the other hand, he lived in Britain for awhile but started calling himself as a British. He has never ever demanded creation of London as a separate province of UK. On getting CNIC and Pakistani passport, Altaf Hussain must swear to call himself a Pakistani (being a mohajir in London).
So the British Government, with world's best agency in the form of Scotland Yard, completely fails to bring the killers of Dr Imran Farooq to justice.
Where is Ayesha M ?? I am missing her representation here
Money Laundering ...... !!! This is not a rare case detected by the British Govt. There are so many other similar cases involving our Corrupt Rulers making properties and their names are more or less open to the public and they roam around without any fear. Appears that the british govt maintains a soft corner for these corrupt leaders who help the Britishers in their assigned tasks. ..........!!!!
Welcome back Sir. Karachites are waiting for their true leader.
He must tell us from where he got those 400000 British pounds, found in one of the houses owned by him. British govt should also confiscate those properties, owned by him, unless he can prove the sources of his income. I think ,he will not be allowed to leave England. Most likely ,his British passport is confiscated. He should tell us about that too. He should also tell us, why he suddenly wants to come back to Pakistan.He left Pakistan in 1992.
It could be that his British nationality is also at stake. Also note the recent independant report by world famous Amnesty international; that too could have some implications. These developments could also be the reason why MQM has joined the provincial government. The other issue is that it is not easy to transfer money to UK without declaring where it came from ie the source of income and especially now.
And without any proof, the British government has sealed all my bank accounts.... Yea right, in a country where if you try to deposit 5000 in cash, bank will insist about its source, only in one of his cash bought houses, 400000 pounds in cash was recovered. This is called money laundering, a declared refugee with no source of income he owns many houses in London without a mortgage all bought in cash!
I am an Indian and believe that Altaf Hussain is a true Pakistani and a savior.
My feeling is that he will be facing more music in UK for other allegations in addition to suspected money laundering...
As they say in Chinese : "Until when the billy goat's mother shall make merry" .......
I thought the Sindh Governor was also from MQM then why is he quiet?
Get the job wart will go away and walk too its gonna refresh your thinking bhaijan. open up paan shop in some famouse restaurant.
Its disappointing to see much hatred against a big leader of Pakistan on this forum.
Can any supporter of any political party in Pakistan claim their leader has not done any corruption? If you compare the level of money laundered by the Pakistani politicians, Altaf is NOWHERE near what the sharifs and zardaris and their cronies have done to Pakistan. Its well known that the billion dollar business run by SHarif's 2 sons in London is from money stolen from the sweat and blood-earned tax money of the Pakistani people. Why the british government and the western nations never took any action against the people who transferred billions of dollars into foreign accounts?
Fact is that there is xenophobia against Mohajirs in Pakistan and they are considered Indians and 'Non-Pakistanis' by a majority of other ethnicities. The hatred against Altaf and the joy shared by many people for his bad fortune in England (for whatever reasons) depicts the state of Pakistan. If you are going to stab the people who build the country in the first place, you will always lose.
@ Mard-e-Haq
Yes Altaf Bhai is our Bhai with British passport. How many have british passport in Bangladesh.
Reading between the lines there seems to be an obvious rift and division within the MQM. How sad! That the Governor of Sindh who is there because of MQM, is turning his back to Altaf is evidence enough of this divide. Maybe this had to come. These spineless cronies of Altaf who are leaving him at the time of his ill-health (one just has to see Altafs face) is very typical of the politics of this country in general and specially of MQM. I have always supported Altaf for his fight against the quota system, and mind you I am not an Urdu speaking, so called Mohajir.
Altaf Bhai is our Bhai!
Dear Altaf Bahi, We are already in crises please stay there. Here your bros Zardari and Shareef's are doing perfectly right things.
He should ask some of our Finance Ministers for advice.
I cannot understand Altaf's urge to come to Pakistan, after all these years. He forgot to come to Pakistan when MQM was part of the Government during Musharraf''s rule. Karachi is a no-go area for honest citizens because of the policies of MQM. The best honorable thing is for him to clear his name in UK and then think of coming to Pakistan. Is he trying to escape from British justice? In the meantime, I urge Pakistan Government to restore FIR's registered against MQM and its leaders. These FIRs where cancelled on the order of General Musharraf when he usurped power.
At last, lack of money and Damocles sword (of law) hanging on his head , has awoken his (Altaf )love for the country. He ran from the death and ironically now he wants to die in Pakistan?
It was obvious since he started to talk about coming back to Pakistan that British police have found something substanatial agaisnt him,FINALLY.But old habits seldom die, if he comes , he will continue to black mail, extort the people of Karachi and Govt. of Pakistan and Sind.BUT SHAME ON HIS EDUCATED PART OF SUPPORTERS FOR BEING BLINDED BY BIAS TO KEEP SUPPORTING SUCH A CROOK. .
You are enemy of peace in Karachi. Why do you want to leave England? Shame for you.
This man should not be allowed to enter the holy land of Pakistan. He has done nothing good for Pakistan in his entire life.
This calls for a strike the UK. Business should remain closed and transporters not to bring their vehicles on the road
Well done British government.Do more to put a person in prison who went beyond a mere matter of compensation and disregraded life and safety of others in both countries Britain and Pakistan!!!
Never have I seen such unity in Tribune's comment section. Everyone is singing the same tune.
I can just say. Ha ha ha....
I always wonder why the gullible MQM "refugees" (Mohajir) from Karachi follow him and why do they still claim to be "refugees" (Mohajir) even after living in Pakistan for more than 60 years. Indeed, this guy is a pathological liar and extremely cunning hypocrite. After living in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years, he should have learned and known better that all citizens are equal under the rule of law and thus he shouldn't be demanding special treatment from the Pakistan Government by threatening to shut down Karachi in lieu of getting his Pakistan Identity Card and Passport back after such a long time.
He want to disown his British passport so that he cannot be sent back and repatriated as a British...how clever of him. But the noose around him is tightened by Scotland yard and Metropolitan police and there is no escaping this time. Even then he just cannot escape the wrath of God...no one does.
Altaf Bhai is ours. Altaf Bhai is of MQM, Sindh and Pakistan. But British don't know that, they will follow what justice and true scenario is. They have governed subcontinent. They are right. Altaf Bhai this time its british law , 90 should know.
Welcome home. Pakistan is awaiting your arrival. All your friends including Zardari, Nawaz, Shahbaz and Asfandyar are anxiously awaiting your sweet arrival. Shame on Britain Government for letting you escape the justice.
Its only in Pakistan that there is no Justice. So what better place to hide till the Final Judgement Day !!
He should be tried, first he was scared of coming to Karachi due to his life being in danger. Now when British government is pursuing a case against him he want to come back. If Mr.Altaf had the courage to die in Pakistan, he wouldnt have left in the first place.
He is a bhagora. always was, always will be. and the people who follow him can go to UK too. People of Karachi are not with him, only a handful of thugs with guns who keep the party in power.
So his bank accounts are frozen in Britain and he want to live in Karachi on the Bhatta money collected by MQM terrorists from people of Karachi. He doesn't knew Karachi is no more a MQM city. The Bhatta khors are running selter skelter after the rangers operation, many have been rounded upon.
There was always something fishy about this issue and finally the cat is out of the bag. After enjoying the benefits of British Passport for 30+ years, Altaf now desparately needs the Pakistani identity. The noose appears to be tightening in UK and sadly there is no escape from the law in UK. Smartly enough, Pakistan appears to be an obvious choice since political blackmailing over Karachi issue can atleast provide a relief or atleast delay the application of law.
Perhaps his British passport has also been confiscated. ...... deserves sympathy
Brace Karachi! Brace! Altaf bhai about to use Karachiites as a blackmailing tool to get what he want.
Is he facing travel restrictions on his British Passport ?
"If I have to die, then why not in Pakistan?”
If ????
Do you have any doubts Altaf bhai, that your days are numbered?
The kind of cash at home, office and in banks while not working what else the UK govt do? I bet he has been on UK welfare system as unemployed just like sitting Sindh govt was receiving welfare money even after being a governor. The UK govt and taxpayers have every right to freeze his accounts and claim all the money back which was spent on him for being an unemployed refugee. Another imp point which is being ignored by most is "why he cannot travel to Pakistan on British passport?" He can get every card and local passport once he is in Karachi. Every immigrant goes to Pakistan to visit their families and friends and Bhai can do the same without fuss. The real reason is he wants to disown his British nationality so he cannot be sent back as a Pakistani citizen.
If the data of a popular leader of Pakistan can get corrupted in the NADRA system, then what about the common man? In Karachi a meter reader enters the wrong meter reading and the consumer is billed in Lacs? They admit their guilt but never bother to correct the bill since 18 months. Looks like our corrupt system also works in the UK.
Why his permanent address on British Passport is that of Agra, India? He should be seeking ID Card from India in that case, No?
To see how this man and his party 'control' the country's largest city and win elections from there tells us the miserable state of 'democracy' in our country. Where else in this world you find a mafia so powerful that it shuts down a city of 20m people in just 15 minutes? I see none.
If he is a criminal or not ( which i believe he is), put him in jail when he comes to Pakistan, but what law are we following by not granting him a Pakistani passport? This just shows our institutions, including NADRA, are highly politicized and they make political decisions under the influence from the government, instead of a more professional decisions based on technical reasons.
This means again you have to recover all this from the citizens of Karachi.
Please remain there, you'll get better justice there as here no one can run case against you. Britain kept him safe.
@Asad@NYC: Why don't you comment in your adopted country's news forums??? Why here??? Are they avoiding and ignoring you??? Of course, they are. Salams
This is something new about the Sindh governor and the PM in which the former kept quiet. Well, we Pakistanis are implementing apartheid indirectly. Salams
This means UK is also against mohajirism … Waiting for MQM supporters never ending explanations
The next episode of this show will be aired on XYZ entertainment at 8 pm.
Frozen bank accounts - for someone who has no declared source of income.... i hope the MQM don't announce to shut-down Karachi because of the UK police doing what should be required of them in any civilised and independent country with limited/no political interference in their work. First no identity card/passport and now this.... andof course the people who has to sufferare Karachiites!
So the threats to shut down karachi for a year is because british police is closing up on him? I hope he doesn't get to come to Pakistan. He won't be tried fairly in Pak. Britain kept him safe, he can also find proper justice there. ET pls publish.
What is wrong with his British Passport ? Why does he need a Pakistani Passport all of a sudden after 25 years ?
I have a feeling that his guy is trying to find refuge in Pakistan, as the British government is making his life hard in London. Once in Pakistan, Altaf will create problems, if the British authorities demand his extradition back to London after the British investigations are complete.
Its better for Pakistan if Altaf stays in London, Altaf creates troubles everywhere he goes.
Altaf has brought nothing good for Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular. Let him face the music in his new adopted country.