Detained abroad: After grilling, MQM’s Muhammad Anwar released on bail

The 64-year-old was arrested by Metropolitan Police on charges of money-laundering

KARACHI:

A senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Muhammad Anwar, who was detained on charges of money laundering by London’s Metropolitan Police, was released on bail Wednesday night after hours of questioning.

The 64-year-old politician was arrested from his north London residence earlier in the day as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation. Five other men, including MQM chief Altaf Hussain himself, were previously arrested in connection with the same investigation and are currently on police bail while the probe continues.

The news of Anwar’s arrest broke after the Metropolitan Police issued a statement. “Officers from the Counter-Terrorism Command (SO15) have arrested a 64-year-old man (F) on suspicion of money laundering,” read the statement which was published on the Metropolitan Police’s website.

It did not mention whether or not the suspect was affiliated with the MQM. However, the party soon confirmed that the arrested man was Muhammad Anwar.

“Muhammad Anwar, who is a close aide of Altaf Hussain and also a member of MQM’s Central Coordination Committee, has been detained from his North London home,” a spokesperson for the party told The Express Tribune. However, he sought to dispel the impression that the party was involved in money laundering.

“Muhammad Anwar is not involved in money laundering and we will continue to cooperate with the police and continue to hope for a timely conclusion of this matter,” the spokesperson said. “The MQM firmly denies any suggestion of money laundering,” a notification issued by the party added.

Police officers searched Anwar’s residence for hours.

Muhammad Anwar is said to be one of Altaf’s most trusted lieutenants and believed to be the one who has been pulling the party’s strings from London. According to sources, the MQM chief mostly relies on Anwar’s advice while dealing with the party affairs.

Anwar had fled to London ahead of Altaf following the 1992 operation in Karachi and made residential arrangements for the MQM chief. His son-in-law has also been indicted in a money laundering case.

The Metropolitan Police’s statement also contained details about the five men, including Altaf Hussain, who were previously arrested in the case.

“(A) aged 73 and (B) aged 44 were arrested on 5 December 2013 on suspicion of money laundering and are on police bail to dates in April. (C) aged 61 was arrested on 3 June 2014 on suspicion of money laundering and is on police bail to a date in April. On 12 January (D) aged 41 attended a police station in Greater Manchester by appointment where he was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and later released on police bail to a date in April. On 17 February (E) aged 27 attended a police station in Suffolk where he was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and later released on police bail to a date in April,” the statement said.


Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2015.