MQM founder released on bail

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was released on bail a day after he was arrested by London police, ARY News reported on Wednesday. 

The MQM founder was arrested after a 15-member Scotland Yard team raided his house early on Tuesday morning. Altaf Hussain was taken into custody over a 2016 “anti-Pakistan” speech and was moved to a nearby police station for inquiry.

He has now been released on bail after London police found evidence linked to the case “insufficient” to keep him in custody.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that during the investigation, MQM founder refused to answer questions asked by the police other than giving out his name, date of birth and residential address.

It is pertinent to note here that MQM founder was currently only leading the party’s politically defunct London chapter.

Lahore High Court had already banned media coverage of his speeches in the year 2015 while his own party distanced itself from him and his statements after his August 22, 2016 speech in which he raised anti-state slogans and provoked workers to attack media organisations’ offices in Karachi.