MQM files Rs5bn defamation suit against Imran Khan

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

MQM files Rs5bn defamation suit against Imran Khan

Dawn.com Published July 23, 2013

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KARACHI:The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday filed a Rs 5 billion defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan at the Sindh High Court for issuing statements against MQM chief Altaf Hussain, DawnNews reported.

Talking to media persons at the SHC premises on the occasion of filing the libel suit, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that half an hour after senior PTI leader Zehra Shahid Husain was killed on the eve of re-polls in Karachi's NA-250 constituency, the bed-ridden PTI chief had levelled allegations against Altaf Hussain.

Sattar added at that time that no case had been registered nor had any investigations taken place yet Imran Khan had announced his verdict.

He further said that the PTI chief should tender an apology for levelling baseless allegations against Altaf Hussain.

MQM's Senator Farogh Nasim said that a notice in this regards was sent to PTI chief Imran Khan earlier as well but no reply was received from him.

He further said that the defamation suit was the first step of many more to come.

Addressing journalists in London, Imran Khan had held the British government responsible for the murder of Zehrah Shahid Husain.

He had further said that the British government should restrain its citizens from spreading violence in Pakistan, a reference to the chief of the MQM who also happens to be a British national.

Khan's statement was criticised by MQM leaders and workers.

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ysk

Jul 23, 2013 02:31pm

I think we can pay off our debts with all the money gathered by these defamation cases.

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G.Nabi

Jul 23, 2013 02:58pm

Another joke , why defamation case against Imran K ? Is n't 400,000 British pounds recovered from supremo's house in London enough to fill MQM kitty ?

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Ali Shah

Jul 23, 2013 03:12pm

MQM is just hilarious. Farooq Sattar's life must be under threat to do something lol

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Ali S

Jul 23, 2013 03:42pm

Personally I'm surprised that MQM is fighting PTI through the courts. I hope that soon all political parties in Pakistan will settle their scores through the court - it's the civilized way.

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Abdullah Hussain

Jul 23, 2013 05:08pm

I think Imran Khan is playing on the wrong foot. Being a national leader he needs to show more maturity & restrain. His outburst against a political party will not do any good for his party. In case his dream against MQM chief does not get materialized then Imran Khan & his PTI will have a major setback. Democracy & national politics should not be iron hard, flexibility should be the key tool of a leader that IK lacks. With all his efforts before election he could not even become an opposition leader in the house.

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shado

Jul 23, 2013 05:21pm

I think this defamation request is good. And I am hoping that Mr. Hussain's video and report from BBC2 LIVE, should be played over and over again. - I feel it sounds true to the core....

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khalid s sheikh

Jul 23, 2013 05:44pm

There is much more behind the 400000 pounds LOL.The money was being used for buying properties.That ofcourse is called Money laundering.So innocent Farooq Sattar instead of suing I.K should sue the British Govt for saying this LOL.

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Ghumman

Jul 23, 2013 06:24pm

Its a very good news. Now IK will have one more chance to present the proofs to courts which he didn't earlier when he promised to do so at scotland yard. My worry is that these all proofs can be dismissed by a human judge who has a family and lives in Karachi (have to think of A Bhai) as it has happened in Ajmal Pahari case who was released after all mess up.

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nazia

Jul 23, 2013 06:30pm

Court is the final authority to judge if someone is a killer MQM did the right thing to go into court against IK. He is no one to judge.

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Jul 23, 2013 06:56pm

Lets start with a case against Altaf Hussain himself, for talking about splitting Karachi from the rest of Pakistan. He sure has the money to pay for the lawsuit.

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NASAH (USA)

Jul 23, 2013 07:19pm

That should teach immature Imran Khan how to open his mouth responsibly in public and not sound like a rickshawala. Politics in Pakistan is no cricket.

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AZah

Jul 23, 2013 07:21pm

I think IK will soon apologize instead of paying Rs.5BN.

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Jul 23, 2013 07:44pm

@khalid s sheikh: Is 400,000 pounds greater than other polititians money in foreign banks. Are those hard earned money our corrupt leaders have in banks around the world. If this amount is correct it is peanuts compared to millions others have.

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FAZZA

Jul 23, 2013 07:51pm

@Ali S: thats the charisma of IK

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M aslam

Jul 23, 2013 07:50pm

@Abdullah Hussain: Mr. IK has no positive agenda to deliver anything. He can stay in media only by abusing someone. So he started with MQM first, then shifted his guns toward NS and now again towards MQM. He fail in KPK to show any positive sign. His first aim is to collect Zakat and Fitra and built palaces for himself, and the 2nd aim is to fullfill his duty towards international donors by helping NGOs to complete their agenda.

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FAZZA

Jul 23, 2013 07:52pm

@G.Nabi: just to recover that loss

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Bkt

Jul 23, 2013 09:14pm

Hilarious suit. Bhatta rates must be set to rise soon. But Imran Khan should also stop being a loose cannon - a little maturity please. You could say the same thing in more measured language. Life goes on

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nisar

Jul 23, 2013 09:23pm

why after so long. Is it another chess move to prove to Met Police that we are innocent

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adnan

Jul 23, 2013 09:40pm

Finally! MQM should stop being nice and return a befitting reply to all these immature politicians.

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SM ZAKI

Jul 23, 2013 10:03pm

Well done MQM- This is the right step in right direction.

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Sami Ullah Swati

Jul 23, 2013 10:02pm

Wait a minute. Altaf is a British National by Choice. Why don't he go to British courts for his defemation case than Pakistani courts, which he abandoned years ago even though he is wanted in so many cases!!! Someone tell me the logic of MQM>>>

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Bilal

Jul 24, 2013 12:47am

Poor Mr. Sattar, I feel sorry for him. He must have been given plenty of threats by Altaf to defend him that way. Money laundering, open threats like "boriyaan tayyar hein" was all made up? I'm sure he wasn't talking about "Aatey ki boriyaan" to be distributed among poor folks. Can't wait for the British Government to throw Altaf in prison or even better, cancel his citizenship and deport him to Pakistan.

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Goodguy

Jul 25, 2013 08:02pm

@Sami Ullah Swati: The lawsuit is filed by MQM (not Altaf), a political party that is registered and operates in Pakistan. Secondly, the defendant, Imran Khan is a Pakistani citizen, so why would the UK court register and hear a case against a person who is not a citizen of their country and who does not reside in the country? Its not rocket science, anyone with half a brain can understand the logic here.

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