Altaf Hussain was arrested on Tuesday in a dawn raid at his London residence by Scotland Yard
WEB DESK / LONDON
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was released on bail on Wednesday after remaining in the custody of the London Metropolitan Police for a day.
The Met Police announced Hussain’s arrest on Tuesday, saying that an MQM-linked man in his 60s had been arrested in northwest London on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.
A statement by the Met Police today, without naming Hussain, said that “a man […] associated with the MQM in Pakistan has today, Wednesday, 12 June been bailed to return to a police station in mid-July”.
“As part of the investigation, officers carried out a search at the north west London address and at a separate commercial address in north west London. Both these searches are now complete,” the Met police said in their statement.
According to reports the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advised the police sufficient evidence didn’t exist in the file placed before the prosecutors and charged couldn’t be allowed until further evidence is furnished.
Hussain will remain on police bail at his home address, bail conditions will apply on him 24-hours and he will be returning to the same police station after about six weeks.
At the Southwark Police Station, Hussain’s questioning started at 10 pm on Tuesday night and continued for two hours till midnight. The MQM founder only confirmed his name, date of birth and his residential address.
Altaf Hussain’s lawyers, present on the occasion, advised Hussain not to answer questions of the police. They told the police that their client will answer questions only before an independent judge and jury if charged and not before the police.
UK-based Cadman was hired by the Government of Pakistan for representation in MQM-related cases.
Altaf Hussain was arrested on Tuesday in a dawn raid at his London residence by Scotland Yard. The MQM founder has been arrested in relation to the hate speech of 2016. According to Scotland Yard, he has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.