Pak seeks British support to book MQM chief for treason

The Pakistan Government has approached the British authorities to take legal action against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, who is in self-exile in London, for his slogans against the country and inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the Pakistani Government has approached the British authorities, including Scotland Yard, with all evidence of the seditious and incendiary speeches of the MQM chief so that legal action could be taken against him, reports the Express Tribune.

"We will use legal and constitutional options against the MQM chief and those who were involved in this act," said Nisar.

"The London police told us that they are aware of it," he said, adding the government has all evidence of Hussain's involvement in money laundering and receiving foreign funds.

The British authorities have been investigating Hussain for money laundering after a huge pile of cash was recovered from his residence and office in London in December 2012.

He was arrested in June 2013 and released after questioning and was bailed six times since.

"We are also assessing whether Monday's vitriolic was Altaf's personal decision or he had received directives from somewhere else," said Nisar.

The Monday riots by the MQM workers and Hussain's speech triggered a crackdown leading to the sealing of the party's headquarters Nine Zero, along with several other offices in the metropolis and elsewhere in Sindh.

At least four treason cases were also registered against Hussain and his senior aides.

However, the party leadership in Karachi distanced itself from Hussain's anti-Pakistan comments and decided to strip him of organisational powers for an indefinite period.

Also, his senior aides, including Dr Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Nasreen Jalil and Amir Liaquat Hussain, disowned the all-powerful London office of the party.