Altaf in focus as British envoy, Nisar meet

Published March 18, 2015
Nisar informed the British High Commissioner about details of the Rangers' raid at MQM headquarters.-APP/File
Nisar informed the British High Commissioner about details of the Rangers' raid at MQM headquarters.-APP/File

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton held a meeting with Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed matters pertaining to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chairman Altaf Hussain, according to BBC Urdu.

During the meeting, which took place at the Punjab House, Nisar shared a copy of the case registered against Altaf in Karachi by Rangers.

On Tuesday, Rangers officials filed a case against Altaf Hussain for threatening the paramilitary force. Rangers spokesperson Col Tahir Mehmood, who filed the case against the political party, claimed that following the raid on MQM Headquarters in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood, Altaf – in an interview on Geo News – threatened members of the paramilitary force who were involved in the operation.

Take a look: Rangers file case against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain

The interior minister also informed the British High Commissioner about other details of the Rangers' raid at MQM headquarters including the arrest of top target killers and recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Last week, Rangers officials conducted an unprecedented raid on the MQM's headquarters. A number of party workers, including MQM's Rabita Committee member Amir Khan, were detained during the raid.

Two convicted criminals and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered during the raid.

Examine: Rangers raid MQM HQ in Karachi, detain member of Rabita Committee

According to sources, the British High Commissioner was requested by Nisar to share the information with authorities in the UK, including Scotland Yard, which is already investigating Altaf Hussain in connection with the murder of Dr Imran Farooq and charges of money laundering.

Explore: Altaf Hussain arrested in London for money laundering

This is not the first time Altaf will be brought into the focus of British authorities. Earlier in February, the London-based MQM supremo invited the wrath of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan when he made derogatory remarks against PTI women and had also alleged that PTI's container protest in Islamabad last year had been the site of nefarious activities.

PTI's information secretary, Shireen Mazari, who was particularly targeted by Altaf in distasteful remarks, had written a letter to Barton, levelling accusations against the MQM chief and had called upon the British government to take action against him.

Read more: Altaf apologises for derogatory remarks against PTI women

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