London police extends MQM chief's bail in money laundering case till Feb 2016

MQM leader Ali Raza Abidi confirms Altaf Hussain's bail extended till February 2016

The Metropolitan Police in London on Monday extended the bail of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in the money-laundering case, Express News reported.

MQM leader Ali Raza Abidi confirmed the MQM chief's bail was extended till February 2016.

Congratulations Pakistan - QET Altaf Hussain's Bail on ML case has been extended until February 2016. Thank you for your wishes and prayers!

— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) October 5, 2015

This is the fifth bail extension granted to the MQM chief since 2013, suggesting police have yet to gather enough evidence to formally charge him.

Earlier during the day, he arrived at Southwark police station in South London to appear before British authorities in connection with the ongoing investigation.

According to reports, Farooq Sattar, Mohammad Anwar and other senior party leaders accompanied the MQM chief.

Read: Govt may continue MQM’s media blackout

The MQM last week had released a statement confirming he would be brought to the police station to be ‘further interviewed’.

The statement said Altaf and the MQM deny any involvement in money laundering. The party also claimed Altaf’s life is in danger in London, and conspiracies have been hatched to eliminate him.

The MQM chief has been a part of money laundering investigations after the Scotland Yard recovered a huge amount of cash from his residence and office in June 2013. He was arrested a year later and released after questioning. No formal charges have so far been pressed against him.