Money laundering case: MQM stresses legitimacy of funds in London court
LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) leader has stressed upon the 'legitimacy' of the money confiscated by the London police during the investigation in the ongoing money laundering case.
According to a statement released on the MQM website, lawyers representing the MQM chief, party leader Tariq Mir, Sarfraz Ahmed and Iftikhar Qureshi during a hearing in West London Magistrate's court claimed that the money, currently in police custody, is legitimate.
Earlier this month, London Metropoitan Police had cancelled bail conditions of the party chief and the two senior London-based MQM leaders — Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir.
Related: Altaf Hussain arrested in London for money laundering
They party leaders were informed that “there is no need for any of you to attend the police station” and that “the bail conditions currently in place are therefore removed”, the MQM statement had said.
The Met police notice, according to the MQM statement, stated that “at the time of writing there is insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge”.
In July 2013, the London Metropolitan Police had confirmed that investigations against Hussain had been initiated on charges of money laundering and incitement to violence.
The Metropolitan Police had confirmed that ‘a considerable amount of money’ had been found during raids on Hussain’s residence and office in London.
The reply had said that the cash was found when a counter-terrorism unit of police raided Hussain’s office on Dec 6, 2012 under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in connection with the investigation of Dr Imran Farooq murder case.
Police had at the time said that the money was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.