KARACHI: Following a telephone call from Altaf Hussain to his top lieutenants in London, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday night appealed to traders and transporters to resume their activities in Karachi from Thursday.

However, senior MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui made it clear that the party would not end its protest sit-ins at Karachi’s Numaish area and parts of Sindh towns.

Life in Karachi remained paralysed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday as MQM workers and supporters continued their protest. However, the telephone call Mr Hussain was allowed to make by the British police resulted in an announcement that would bring some respite for the people of Karachi.

Despite Altaf Hussain’s call to party leaders in London, Muttahida makes it clear that the sit-ins will continue

Mr Hussain is still under observation at a London hospital following his ‘arrest’ by the British authorities on suspicion of money laundering. According to the MQM, his fasting blood test had been conducted and in the light of lab report doctors would decide whether the London Metropolitan Police could ‘interview’ him or not.

The MQM leaders in London tried to meet Mr Hussain at the hospital, but the British authorities did not allow them. Later they allowed Mr Hussain to make a brief telephone contact with his party men and his 11-year-old daughter.

According to an MQM statement released from London, Mr Hussain asked his followers to remain peaceful. He said they should not take law into their hands under any circumstances.

The MQM leader said this was not a new situation for him. “I will never disappoint the nation,” Mr Hussain told MQM office-bearers in London’s international secretariat.

In Karachi, MQM leader Hyder Abbas Rizvi read out Mr Hussain’s message in front of the participants of the sit-in.

Later in the night, Dr Siddiqui thanked traders, transporters, political, religious and social leaders, labourers, school owners and people from all walks of life for showing unity after the `arrest’ of Mr Hussain, and appealed to them to resume their normal activities.

Earlier, DawnNews reported that the London police had asked for the names of three people who would be allowed to meet the MQM chief.

The people could either be related to Mr Hussain or his friends.

The development came hours after MQM leader Wasay Jalil claimed that although police wanted to question Mr Hussain, he had been shifted to hospital because of ill-health.

Mr Jalil said the MQM was cooperating with the police in their investigations into the alleged money laundering and the murder of Imran Farooq.

Police have sealed the residence of Mr Hussain after a search carried out by 40 personnel, including members of the forensic team.

DawnNews quoted London police as saying that six personnel were still at the residence, which would be handed over to the MQM chief after he got bail.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad on Tuesday to enquire after the health of Mr Hussain. They assured Mr Ibad of the federal government’s full cooperation in the matter.

According to Reuters, a spokesman for London police said Mr Hussain remained in custody and he is being questioned on suspicion of money laundering. “By this evening we will probably know if he’s going to be charged or released,” the spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014