KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Wasay Jalil has said that party chief Altaf Hussain is not under any governmental restrictions in the United Kingdom, adding that an international conspiracy was underway against the MQM.
Speaking to media representatives at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the MQM leader said Hussain, Raza Haroon, other party colleagues and their family members were faring well and that no leader of the MQM had been charged for any crime.
Regarding a recent episode of BBC Two’s program ‘Newsnight’ that discussed allegations of money laundering against the party as well as the murder of its leader Imran Farooq, Jalil said the program was prepared and shown out of context.
He added that a drive of negative propaganda had been launched against the MQM which was part of a global conspiracy against the party.
The party leader said the MQM was all for rule of law and that no restrictions had been imposed by the British government upon Hussain or any of the other party leaders.
Jalil said the media was behaving in what may be classified as an erratic manner, adding that the MQM's legal team was reviewing the situation.
The MQM has recently been under the spotlight not only on account of allegations of money laundering and some recent speeches made by its chief but also over expected developments in the investigation of Farooq’s assassination.
Farooq had co-founded the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), the predecessor to the MQM, with Hussain. He was deputy convener of the party, technically next to the MQM chief. His body was found with multiple stab wounds and head injuries on September 16, 2010, outside his home at Green Lane, Edgware, north London.
In June 2013, a man suspected of involvement in Farooq’s murder was arrested from London’s Heathrow Airport. It was the first arrest carried out by London Police in relation to the killing, and has so far been the most significant indicator of progress in the case in over a year. The man was reportedly released on bail later.
