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Breaking News: Altaf Hussain arrested in London

MQM founder Altaf Hussain arrested in London over incendiary 2016 speech

Dawn.comUpdated June 11, 2019
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Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain. — Photo courtesy mqm.org

MQM founder Altaf Hussain — who went into exile in the early 1990s — was arrested in London on Tuesday.

"A man has today, Tuesday, 11 June, been arrested in connection with an investigation into a number of speeches made by an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan," read a statement by London's Metropolitan Police, which did not name Hussain.

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Metropolitan Police

✔@metpoliceuk

https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/1138377370442895361

Man arrested in connection with speeches http://news.met.police.uk/news/man-arrested-in-connection-with-speeches-372241 …


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"The man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested at an address in north west London. He was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007."

Section 44 'Intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence':

(1) A person commits an offence if — - (a) he does an act capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence; and - (b) he intends to encourage or assist its commission.

(2) But he is not to be taken to have intended to encourage or assist the commission of an offence merely because such encouragement or assistance was a foreseeable consequence of his act.

"He was detained under PACE [Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984] and taken to a south London police station, where he currently remains in police custody," added the statement.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice regulate police powers and protect public rights.

"As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out a search at the north west London address. Detectives are also searching a separate commercial address in north west London.

"The investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, is 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," said the statement.

"Throughout the investigation, officers have been liaising with Pakistani authorities in relation to our ongoing enquiries."

Following the MQM-London chief's arrest, Karachi city police chief Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh issued directions to all SSPs and DIGs for patrolling and vigilance with anti-riot squads and equipment in Karachi.

Explore: How Altaf Hussain maintains support in Karachi

Later in the day, MQM-London's international secretariat released a statement, saying "such things don't hold any meaning" for Altaf Hussain.

"Altaf Hussain is a brave, principled, and honest person, and he won't change his principled views for any reason. This is why he had to go into exile. He has been arrested thrice in Pakistan and once in UK over false charges," the statement added.

Over 20 identical FIRs pertaining to 'hate speech' were registered against Hussain and several other leaders and workers of the MQM's London and Pakistan factions.

The London Met Police which began investigating Hussain's 2016 speech visited Islamabad in April this year to collect evidence and interview key witnesses.

Hate speech
The arrest is in relation to hate speechmade by Hussain on August 22, 2016.

Hours after Hussain delivered the incendiary speech, MQM workers had attacked the ARY News office in Karachi. Shortly after, the Rangers had detained a handful of senior MQM leaders overnight.

In the days that followed, the Karachi wing of the party led by Farooq Sattar distanced itself from Hussain and the London wing.

Perspective: The MQM crisis

Parts of Hussain's speech that went viral on social media minutes after the violence broke out in Karachi showed that while addressing the MQM workers protesting outside the Karachi Press Club against “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of workers”, the MQM supremo had not only raised slogans against Pakistan but also called the country “a cancer for entire world”.

“Pakistan is cancer for entire world,” he had said. “Pakistan is headache for the entire world. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the entire world. Who says long live Pakistan...it’s down with Pakistan.”

The minister for interior at the time had sought assistance from British authorities, and asked them to take action against Hussain for “inciting people of Pakistan to violence”.

On August 23, Hussain apologised to the then army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, and the Rangers director general for his vitriolic speech.

“From the depth of heart, I beg pardon from my remarks against Pakistan, the establishment including Gen Raheel Sharif and DG Rangers,” he said in a statement shared on Twitter by MQM spokesperson Wasay Jalil.

“I was under severe mental stress over extra-judicial arrests and precarious condition of my workers sitting at the hunger strike camp.”

Exile
Hussain was born on September 17, 1953 in Karachi. He obtained his early education at a public school in Karachi’s Azizabad neighbourhood, a middle-class locality in Karachi where the MQM chief spent his early years and his youth. He later enrolled at the University of Karachi to study Pharmacy and graduated from the programme in 1979.

Previously known as the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Hussain’s party started off as a political group with the aim of representing the Urdu-speaking community which had migrated to Pakistan due to Partition.

His political career began during his student years in KU when he and Azeem Ahmed Tariq founded the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO).

Formed in 1978, APMSO gained a massive following within a short period of time.

Under Hussain’s leadership, MQM swept the 1988 election in Sindh’s urban areas, emerging as the third largest party.

Read more: Politics and exile — The story of Altaf Hussain

In the early 1990s, the MQM chief went into exile as the government at the time conducted an operation in Karachi.

The MQM under Hussain was accused of using violent tactics to attain and retain political power. On the contrary, Hussain maintained that the state and other political parties have targeted MQM and its workers ever since its formation.

Viewed as the man who controlled Karachi from London, Hussain came under fire in May 2013 for his televised speech across Pakistan where he allegedly demanded the separation of Karachi from the rest of Pakistan if the public mandate of his party was not acceptable to the 'establishment'. The party later clarified saying it was taken out of context.

Additional reporting by Farooq Shah.
 
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Just to refresh ourselves exactly what Altaf Hussain said -

“Pakistan is cancer for entire world,” he had said. “Pakistan is headache for the entire world. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the entire world. Who says long live Pakistan...it’s down with Pakistan.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1487536


And this is a guy who was voted into power for decades and his influence still remains in Karachi, witness the police has been put on high alert lest his supporters cause trouble. Indeed his party was even in power and at times had presence in the federal government of Musharaf. PTM eat your heart out. By comparison they are kids. A fringe that has nominal support and will never go anywhere near centre of power.

@Nilgiri

Ps. Somebody send me a memo when PTM actually win control over a huge metropolitan city like Karachi or form part of the federal government and run government departments. A member here called PTM supporters savages. I wonder what he calls Altaf supporters who had vast support?

Your PTM is the worst of all as$hole. Your PTM just attacked and killed our soldiers just few days ago
 
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I hope he is sent back... this dog needs to be dismembered from limb to limb

Just to refresh ourselves exactly what Altaf Hussain said -

“Pakistan is cancer for entire world,” he had said. “Pakistan is headache for the entire world. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the entire world. Who says long live Pakistan...it’s down with Pakistan.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1487536


And this is a guy who was voted into power for decades and his influence still remains in Karachi, witness the police has been put on high alert lest his supporters cause trouble. Indeed his party was even in power and at times had presence in the federal government of Musharaf. PTM eat your heart out. By comparison they are kids. A fringe that has nominal support and will never go anywhere near centre of power.

@Nilgiri

Ps. Somebody send me a memo when PTM actually win control over a huge metropolitan city like Karachi or form part of the federal government and run government departments. A member here called PTM supporters savages. I wonder what he calls Altaf supporters who had vast support?



After a month long ban this loser comes back and immediately starts racists posts against Karachi, the very reason he was banned. Seems like some Karachiite had his way with you, and to your horror you enjoyed it and now you spend your entire life getting over that guilt by bashing Karachi and her people.
 
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Extradition ka koi chance?

Unfortunately not, he had this defense for a very long time that Pakistan exercise Death Penalty. He is the premier "beneficiary" of Death Penalty, considering the amount of murders carried out on his orders in Pakistan. And at least one with in the UK.
 
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Altaf insulted the Idea of Pakistan. He insulted Pakistan and tried to peddle his racist sh*t in the name of ethnicity.

Pak belongs to us all. We are Paks, Pak is Our Land.

Anyone who peddles ethnic, secterian or linguistic sh*t is equal to this lananti Altaf.

Idea of Pakistan is worth fighting for.

Whoever tries to undermine the Idea of Pakistan is our enemy.


PTM, BLA, Altafians, Diesels or Sindhcardis... anyone who tries to undermine Pakistan shall be crushed without second thought.

#Don'tMessWithPakistan

Kill the Haters:




Lion Pathan Speaks Pak:

 
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Waqii kuch loog kabhi nahi sudharty at the moment when we need unity of whole nation to bring all those corrupts and traitors to their final end they start their old hateful agenda for what purpose??to divide us within . harkat tu dekhoo iss ki Karachi sy ALtaf iisay hamesha nazar aa jataa hai par Sq.Ldr Hassan Siddiqui kabhi nahi
 
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I hope he is sent back... this dog needs to be dismembered from limb to limb





After a month long ban this loser comes back and immediately starts racists posts against Karachi, the very reason he was banned. Seems like some Karachiite had his way with you, and to your horror you enjoyed it and now you spend your entire life getting over that guilt by bashing Karachi and her people.
Tell, me please exactly how is this racist? I made statement of fact. There is nothing remotely racist about this.

  1. Did Altaf say this? Yes
  2. Was Altaf revered don of Karachi as leader of MQM for decades? Yes
  3. Was the thread about Altaf Bahi? Yes
@Nilgiri @Dubious @waz

Altaf insulted the Idea of Pakistan. He insulted Pakistan and tried to peddle his racist sh*t in the name of ethnicity.

Pak belongs to us all. We are Paks, Pak is Our Land.

Anyone who peddles ethnic, secterian or linguistic sh*t is equal to this lananti Altaf.

Idea of Pakistan is worth fighting for.

Whoever tries to undermine the Idea of Pakistan is our enemy.


PTM, BLA, Altafians, Diesels or Sindhcardis... anyone who tries to undermine Pakistan shall be crushed without second thought.

#Don'tMessWithPakistan

Kill the Haters:




Lion Pathan Speaks Pak:

Hurrah. 101% with you on this.
 
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Your PTM just attacked and killed our soldiers just few days ago
Take the time sometime to look at where many of those soldiers are recruited from.

Naughty boy!

I need you on Civilisational front... we need to expand our natural Civilisational boundaries... young Paks need to know that about 45% of Pak is under Gangadesh occupation...

And you go overboard with naughty stuff... easy now my brother!
Okay, I hold you in very high regard. I will blige your suggestion. I will try to ignore internal politics and focus on history and national strategy etc

this dog needs to be dismembered from limb to limb
MMmmmm. This kinda of sounds like lynching. Wanna join me on a nostalgic trip to India and just for purposes of study see how it is done? Dangle bit of beef?

@Nilgiri can you arrange this for us please?
 
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Doesn't matter to us now..We already have negated his influence in Pakistan and Karachi...He is no more useful to them, and they are dumping him..
 
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May Allah bless you, my brother!

We need your intellect to be deployed like strategic weapon... these days I am a beached bottle nose.. low energy..

But you are fighting fit. After 27th Our Land is under a different kind of threat. It is Civilisational as well...

Our boys can fight the hard battle...but here on PDF we need to make them enemies of Pak dance...

Our agreed belief of a Civlisational Pak that has been here for 10.000 years need to come to fore and Young Paks to own it..breath it... feel it.

You can make this happen much better than I. I am always there behind you on Civilisational Front. Count on my unreserved support.

At the moment I am more foucsed on financial and economy matters... perhaps not your forte...

I find it great offense that Our Civlisation has been stolen in broad daylight... and there is not outrage.

Young Paks, when they realise this, will love Pak even more.

Remember that thing I pointed about small stonehedges up North... my brother, we are Ancient.

I might be blined with Green...but I stronly believe that we are Longest Living Civlisation... we built those hindu temples, we built those Buddhist universities... it was Pak, Bodhidarhma, who went to China...brought Buddishm there... hence per default Japs are living extension of our Civlisational gifts..

You know what I am talking about.

You have secular bend and I am inclined towards Sufism... but we are talking the same... becuase Our Inherit Mysticism is part of our DNA.

Our Response to Beuaty, Existential Mystery and Human Condition...throughout mellenia is the same.

You and I are in Love with Indus Pakistan!
What a rousing post. You have my 100% obligation and support. By the way I am also partial to Sufism.
 
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@Mangus Ortus Novem Allah give u health we pray Sir we need it more than ever now its just the start of great game we talked about.They are going to fight back and trust me very hard with every means possible as its in their character.Civilization is also very important topic esp for new generation they need it to fully understand the value of being an Pakistani and be proud of it and thanx Almighty Allah for it
 
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What a rousing post. You have my 100% obligation and support. By the way I am also partial to Sufism.
Kapitaan open a new thread about historically prominent places/personalities of Pakistan.
Main bhi kuch khatte bol,bol dunga :D
Btw,,u said it first,,,abt pakchin fraandshp,,how atheist china n islamic pakistan will romance.we see it today,,n it's actually hillarious to see tht even staff members who were booing u r outraged by chinese influx n related complications.
U d man:tup:
Dont let the chooza kids hold u back
 
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