In a dramatic development, Scotland Yard’s special unit arrested Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain in an unprecedented raid in London. While Altaf Hussain was part of investigations into his own party’s convener Dr Imran Farooq, some evidence obtained by the Scotland Yard compelled them to begin a new probe into alleged money laundering.
His followers in Pakistan were startled. The situation remains tense in Karachi and urban Sindh, where all political parties including rivals PTI and partners PPP came out supporting the MQM over its leader’s arrest. The party’s key firefighter, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, is lobbying with the government as well as intelligence and security agencies behind the scenes to bring his leader back to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the British high commissioner in Karachi met former president Asif Zardari. Insiders say he asked for security in case the MQM reacts.
“The V Corps in Karachi has been notified by intelligence agencies and the interior ministry about the situation following Altaf Hussain’s arrest in advance, therefore the military is ready to be deployed,” a senior official said.
Scotland Yard and London Metropolitan Police had been investigating Dr Imran Farooq’s murder and had arrested Altaf Hussain’s nephew Iftikhar Hussain over an alleged phone call to Khaled Shamim – another MQM veteran and son in law of Muhammad Anwar.
[quote]The Sindh governor is lobbying behind the scenes to bring his leader back to Pakistan[/quote]
Two men belonging reportedly to the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organization (APMSO) were taken in custody by the ISI at the Karachi airport after Scotland Yard and MI5 tipped the Pakistani intelligence agency, according to sources privy to the matter. Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Ali are suspects in the murder.
Sources say the two men admitted to being involved in the murder within 30 minutes of their arrest, and claimed Khalid Shamim was their handler. He was arrested later, also in Karachi. Scotland Yard and MI5 also shared the phone logs of Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Ali, who they said had been in direct contact with Khalid Shamim throughout.
Earlier in 2013, Scotland Yard searched Altaf Hussain’s house. In a major twist, they found large sums of cash in the MQM chief’s house.
He had wanted to travel back to Pakistan, but his party says the government delayed the provision of a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis to him unnecessarily. An official in the interior ministry denies the charge. “The impression that a NICOP was refused to Altaf Hussain is deceiving,” he said. “He could have traveled to Pakistan any time with a Pakistani passport.”
While many in Pakistan fear there might be chaos in the MQM if their leader is not directly in touch with them despite the central coordination committee headed by Nadeem Nusrat, the senior deputy convener in London, and Khaled Maqbool Siddiqui in Karachi, there are signs especially visible after Altaf Hussain’s arrest that the party has put some shock absorbers in place. The two leaders of the coordination committee, the Sindh governor, and Dr Farooq Sattar have handled the situation maturely, analysts say. But Altaf Hussain’s future in London is uncertain. A lot depends is in the hands of senior leaders and their ability to sustain pressure and main discipline from within.
His followers in Pakistan were startled. The situation remains tense in Karachi and urban Sindh, where all political parties including rivals PTI and partners PPP came out supporting the MQM over its leader’s arrest. The party’s key firefighter, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, is lobbying with the government as well as intelligence and security agencies behind the scenes to bring his leader back to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the British high commissioner in Karachi met former president Asif Zardari. Insiders say he asked for security in case the MQM reacts.
“The V Corps in Karachi has been notified by intelligence agencies and the interior ministry about the situation following Altaf Hussain’s arrest in advance, therefore the military is ready to be deployed,” a senior official said.
Scotland Yard and London Metropolitan Police had been investigating Dr Imran Farooq’s murder and had arrested Altaf Hussain’s nephew Iftikhar Hussain over an alleged phone call to Khaled Shamim – another MQM veteran and son in law of Muhammad Anwar.
[quote]The Sindh governor is lobbying behind the scenes to bring his leader back to Pakistan[/quote]
Two men belonging reportedly to the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organization (APMSO) were taken in custody by the ISI at the Karachi airport after Scotland Yard and MI5 tipped the Pakistani intelligence agency, according to sources privy to the matter. Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Ali are suspects in the murder.
Sources say the two men admitted to being involved in the murder within 30 minutes of their arrest, and claimed Khalid Shamim was their handler. He was arrested later, also in Karachi. Scotland Yard and MI5 also shared the phone logs of Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Ali, who they said had been in direct contact with Khalid Shamim throughout.
Earlier in 2013, Scotland Yard searched Altaf Hussain’s house. In a major twist, they found large sums of cash in the MQM chief’s house.
He had wanted to travel back to Pakistan, but his party says the government delayed the provision of a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis to him unnecessarily. An official in the interior ministry denies the charge. “The impression that a NICOP was refused to Altaf Hussain is deceiving,” he said. “He could have traveled to Pakistan any time with a Pakistani passport.”
While many in Pakistan fear there might be chaos in the MQM if their leader is not directly in touch with them despite the central coordination committee headed by Nadeem Nusrat, the senior deputy convener in London, and Khaled Maqbool Siddiqui in Karachi, there are signs especially visible after Altaf Hussain’s arrest that the party has put some shock absorbers in place. The two leaders of the coordination committee, the Sindh governor, and Dr Farooq Sattar have handled the situation maturely, analysts say. But Altaf Hussain’s future in London is uncertain. A lot depends is in the hands of senior leaders and their ability to sustain pressure and main discipline from within.