Altaf Hussain leaves London police station as bail extended in hate speech case – Pakistan

The founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, appeared before a police station in London after being summoned to be interrogated in an investigation related to his alleged hate speeches transmitted from the United Kingdom to his followers in Pakistan.

Hussain arrived at the Southwark police station around 10 a.m. local time, and left after almost four and a half hours, said Mustafa Azizabadi of the MQM-London. Sunrise.

He was allowed to leave after his bond was extended. The duration of the bond was not immediately known.

In June, the founder of MQM was arrested at his London residence as part of the investigation of his alleged hate speech. However, he was released on bail a day later by the British authorities without filing charges related to the investigation.

He was expected to appear before the police today as his bond expired this month.

Speaking to reporters outside the police station upon arrival, Hussain said: “I trust British law. I have not done anything wrong. I am not afraid or afraid of anyone. "

“These are all fabricated cases. I'm used to it, "he said.

Read: The arrest of Altaf Hussain: last nail in his political career?

When he was leaving the police station, Hussain said the interview had been "good." When asked how he had answered the questions, he said: "There is nothing to comment [upon]".

The London Metropolitan Police had raided Hussain's residence on June 11, arrested him and transferred him to the Southwark police station, where he was interrogated in the presence of his lawyers in connection with the investigation that, according to police, focused in a speech. broadcast in August 2016, as well as other speeches.

After his release on bail, a source at MQM-London had told him Sunrise that the authorities had decided not to press charges but would continue with their investigation to obtain sufficient evidence or otherwise.

The founder of MQM was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or aiding crimes contrary to Section 44 (intentionally encouraging or helping a crime) of the Serious Crime Act, 2007.

Hussain, based in London, has been the subject of several consultations while living in self-exile for the past 27 years. He was first arrested on June 3, 2014, in connection with a money laundering investigation and was released on bail after a couple of days.

In October 2016, the British authorities abandoned the money laundering investigation and returned a huge sum of cash recovered from the home and Hussain's office during separate raids in 2014.

Hussain was also interviewed by investigators investigating the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq, who was stabbed in London in 2010.

While a court imposed a ban on Hussain's media coverage, his own party in Pakistan broke away from him after he delivered an incendiary speech by telephone on August 22, 2016. Since then, he has faced an unannounced ban. and his loyalists are not. You are allowed to participate in political activities, or even meet at the Nine Zero headquarters in Azizabad, Karachi, which has been closed since 2016.

The Pakistani authorities had complained to their British counterparts about Hussain's incendiary speeches that, according to them, were aimed at inciting their followers to violence.