LONDON: Scotland Yard on Tuesday arrested Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and leader of its London chapter Altaf Hussain from his residence in the British capital.
“A man has today, Tuesday, 11 June, been arrested in connection with an investigation into a number of speeches made by an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan,” reads a statement issued by London Metropolitan Police.
“The man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested at an address in north west London. He was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007,” the press release stated.
The police statement says that the man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested at an address in north west London. He was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.
“As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out a search at the north west London address. Detectives are also searching a separate commercial address in north west London. The investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, is focused on a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person.
Throughout the investigation, officers have been liaising with Pakistani authorities in relation to our ongoing enquiries,” the police statement reads.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA’s) Anti-Terrorism Wing has contacted Scotland Yard for the extradition of MQM founder Altaf Hussain, who was taken into custody earlier in the day in London, citing sources.
“FIA shared evidence with the Scotland Yard for MQM’s founder extradition”, sources said.
It was also learnt that a three-member team of FIA is ready to fly to London and was waiting for a ‘green signal’ from the Interior ministry, sources said.
It is worth mentioning here that more than 30 cases are registered against MQM founder in Karachi and he has been declared an absconder in a score of cases registered against him.
Altaf Hussain was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police from his residence in London.
Lahore High Court had already banned media coverage of his speeches in the year 2015 while his own party distanced itself from him and his statements after his August 22, 2016 speech in which he raised anti-state slogans and provoked workers to attack media organisations’ offices in Karachi.
Meanwhile, following the arrest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain by Scotland Yard, Karachi Police Chief Ameer Shaikh has ordered police to ensure foolproof security in the metropolitan.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi has directed the SSPs of city’s districts to ensure swift security measures in order to avoid any law and order situation amid arrest of MQM founder.
“SSPs and SHOs should start patrolling in their respective areas”, the AIG said. The police have been directed to take stern action against the outlaws. – NNI