KARACHI: As Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain was undergoing angiography at a London hospital, a senior leader of his party announced on Thursday night that the MQM would observe a “Youm-i-Dua” on Friday.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told participants of a sit-in at Karachi’s Numaish area that Mr Hussain had talked to MQM leaders in London by phone and informed them that he would undergo angiography shortly.

Mr Hussain asked his followers to pray for his early and complete recovery. “So we have decided to observe Friday as Youm-i-Dua for the speedy recovery of Mr Hussain,” Mr Siddiqui said.

He said the MQM chief wanted his workers and supporters to remain united and continue their struggle.

According to an MQM statement, PPP leader Wajid Shamsul Hasan and Dr Asim Hussain were also present at the MQM’s international secretariat when Mr Hussain called. They also talked to Mr Hussain and gave him a message of former president Asif Ali Zardari, said the statement.

Meanwhile, the UK authorities did not allow an MQM delegation to meet their supremo currently held at a London hospital.

Talking to reporters outside the London hospital, MQM leader Babar Ghauri said his party would prove in court that the money-laundering charges against Mr Hussain were false.

Earlier, the MQM said in a statement that Mr Hussain was still in the hospital, where doctors were conducting different tests. “He will undergo a medical test today after that the doctors would decide if he is in a position to give interview [to investigators] or not.”

Earlier, DawnNews reported that the British government had allowed the Pakistani High Commission in London access to the MQM leader.

Imran Mirza, the acting Pakistani high commissioner to the UK, met Mr Hussain at the hospital.

After the meeting, Mr Mirza said that Mr Hussain was in high spirits, adding that the MQM chief thanked the prime minister and the Pakistani public for support.

He said police would question Mr Hussain after he was discharged from the hospital.

Police had concluded the search of Mr Hussain’s house which had been going on since 5:30am on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2014