LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain was called in for questioning by the London police on Thursday morning in connection with a hate speech case being investigated by British authorities. He was released after nearly five hours of questioning, with an extension in his bail.

Speaking to reporters before entering the Southwark police station, Mr Hussain said: “I have faith in British law. I haven’t done anything wrong. I am not scared or afraid of anyone.”

He claimed that the case against him was a “fabricated” one.

Bail in hate speech case extended

MQM-London leader Mustafa Azizabadi said Mr Hussain reached the police station at around 10am local time.

He added that Mr Hussain’s visit to the police station had been expected on Thursday because his bail was due to expire soon.

Mr Azizabadi later confirmed that an extension in the bail had been granted.

This is the second time that Mr Hussain has been called in for questioning in connection with the hate speech case. He was arrested by the Met Police on June 11 this year in the case pertaining to some speeches linked to him, but was released after he sought bail.

His bail was due to expire in September.

The case has been filed on the basis of “suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007”.

The investigation that led to his arrest in June was led by the Met’s counterterrorism command, a statement released at the time said.

The Met said the inquiry was “focused on a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person”.

Officers in June had searched two addresses linked to the MQM founder in north-west London. Police had also said that its officers have been liaising with authorities in Pakistan in relation to their ongoing inquiry.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2019