MQM denies it incites violence in Pakistan from London
The most powerful party in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) is run from the quiet London suburb of Edgware by its leader Altaf Hussain.
On Wednesday, BBC Newsnight reported that police in London are investigating MQM for possible money-laundering. Newsnight understands that in raids on MQM-owned properties in London, police seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in unaccounted-for cash.
Officers are also investigating allegations that Altaf Hussain used his base in the UK to incite violence in Pakistan.
Dr Farooq Sattar, the leader of MQM in Karachi, tells Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman that the party is a victim of "malicious propaganda and a media trial".
Dr Sattar rejected claims that the party is involved in violence, or incitement to violence, and said he could not comment on the investigation into possible money-laundering while police enquiries continued. He also pointed out that no arrests had been made.
11 Jul 2013
- From the section UK