MQM denies link to Pakistan killing

Dubai: Altaf Hussain is accused of murder in Pakistan and leads his party remotely from exile in England. His party ­— the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — ­is designated a terrorist organisation by Canada, a charge it strongly denies. It is supported mainly by Muslim Urdu-speaking people whose families moved to Sindh province at the time of the partition of India in 1947.

In recent days he gave a speech which many Pakistanis felt was an incitement to attack political rivals. British police are investigating whether or not it constituted a hate speech.

In response to accusations of electoral fraud, he is alleged to have threatened his accusers with violence.

Hussain says that his remarks were taken out of context.

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that an investigation had been launched “following complaints concerning comments made in a broadcast” by Hussain.

Since the mid-1980s, the MQM has won every poll it has contested in Karachi and it did so again in the May 11 general election.

But this time, it is faced strong and widespread allegations of rigging and electoral fraud, from Imran Khan’s Movement for Justice Party (PTI).

A week ago, addressing party workers from London, Hussain responded to the allegations by appearing to threaten protesters with violence, and suggesting that if his party’s mandate was tampered with, Karachi would have no choice but to separate from Pakistan.

During his speech he referred to protests taking place near the Three Swords roundabout in Karachi.

“Those people who are protesting — and grandstanding — near Three Swords — I don’t want to fight or quarrel, but if I order my supporters now, they will go to Three Swords and turn them into a reality.”

He added: “MQM is blamed for everything. I say, oppose us with respect and decency, and with proof, otherwise I will soon unleash my supporters.”

Hussain has since said that his remarks, which were broadcast on live TV, were taken out of context.

Karachi, the nuclear-armed country’s key port, is home to 18 million people. It typically sees about a dozen murders a day, a combination of political killings, attacks by the Pakistan Taliban and sectarian militant groups, and street crime.

— With inputs from agencies