NewsFeb 02 , 2016
Altaf no longer required to attend police station: UK police
By Murtaza Ali Shah
LONDON: Leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has been released from the police bail hearings but the money-laundering investigation involving him and five others continues.
Geo News exclusively broke the news on Monday afternoon that Altaf Hussain, Sarfaraz Merchant, Tariq Mir, M Anwar and two others have been advised by the police that their bails have been cancelled and they are no more required to attend the police stations today (Tuesday) or on other dates given by the investigators. But the police announced that being released from police bail doesn’t mean that “no further action will be taken against them, no decision has yet been made, but it does mean that they will no longer be required to return to a police station”.
The police said that it will not return the cash and other items seized from the MQM office and Altaf Hussain’s house — during two separate raids — and will retain them under the under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, pending further enquiries.
“It is impossible to give a time limit on an investigation, we will continue to work diligently on the investigation and thoroughly investigate all of the evidence that is connected with the case,” said the police in a statement.
When asked by this correspondent, a police spokesman said that if it’s decided that anyone needs to be charged and prosecuted in this case then it will be done through “summons to attend court”. The police said that the six people released from the police bail could be re-arrested if “new evidence is received”.
A police source said that the decision had been taken because “it’s a complex investigation” and suspects can be put on the police bail only for a “certain time and not indefinitely”. She said that some people in the MQM-related investigation have been on police bail for over two years and it was not possible to continue with their police bails.
The MQM had earlier issued a press release stating that Altaf Hussain was going to attend the police station on Tuesday. The party was so nervous — and expecting charges — that it appointed Nadeem Nusrat as the successor to Altaf Hussain fearing that the party leadership might be charged. The MQM said that it had received a note from the police stating that “at the time of writing there is insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge”.
The statement quoted Altaf Hussain as saying: “I am relieved that the Metropolitan Police have decided to cancel police bail for myself, Mr Mir and Mr Anwar. I continue to deny any involvement in money laundering and would like to thank my millions of members and followers around the world for their ongoing support.”
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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