KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) released a statement on Wednesday rubbishing rumours about party chief Altaf Hussain's ill-health.

"Rumours circulating about the leader's health are part of a conspiracy and script to spread despair and spread panic among workers and the public," said the statement.

"[Altaf] is perfectly fine and busy with personal and party matters and is in regular contact with the Rabita Committee, zones, and party departments," the statement quoted Rabita Committee convener Nadeem Nusrat as saying.

Another London-based MQM spokesperson told Dawn.com Hussain is "fine and fresh" and that the reports are part of a "drama".

Rumours about the MQM supremo's ill-health made the rounds on social media and Whatsapp groups as former Karachi mayor, Mustafa Kamal, returned from self-imposed exile this week with Anees Qaimkhani to form a new, yet-unnamed party, inviting MQM members to defect.

Following the rumours about Hussain's health, security was beefed up around the British High Commission in Karachi, a source confirmed to Dawn.com.

BBC Urdu published a statement of Altaf Hussain, in which the MQM chief asked the establishment to learn from the past and that he doesn’t want any “confrontation”.

Karachiites frantically shared chain messages inquiring and speculating about the situation in the city.

In response to Kamal's first press conference last week, party leader Farooq Sattar also said, “The return of Mustafa Kamal and Anees Qaimkhani is part of a conspiracy but MQM stands by Altaf Hussain”.

Rabita Committee convener Nadeem Nusrat lashed out from London at the media for making “an issue out of a non-issue.”

“Media gave hours of air time to people with no mandate,” complained Nadeem Nusrat.