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Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Is Altaf Hussain Pakistan’s most wanted terrorist?

Altaf Hussain is among the list of suspects in terrorism cases that the country’s top investigation body considers ‘most wanted’ terrorists. Will the UK hand Hussain over to Pakistan?

Altaf Hussain, founder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, is among the list of suspects in terrorism cases that the country’s top investigation body considers ‘most wanted’, local media reported. The anti-terrorism wing of the Federal Investigation Agency has compiled a document listing the profiles of some 1,210 terrorism suspects that it deems most notorious, reported The Express Tribune.

The list contains information on suspects wanted in some of the most high-profile terrorist incidents to take place in the country, such as those accused of carrying out the attempt on the lives of former president Pervez Musharraf and his Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Others listed include suspects wanted in the assassination of late Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada and the kidnapping of former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Haider.

In what should put the rest of India’s constant finger-pointing at Pakistan, the 198-page document also lists the names and profiles of those allegedly involved in carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In connection with the murder of senior MQM leader Imran Farooq, the list also includes the party’s founder Altaf Hussain as well as the former head of its diplomatic wing Muhammad Anwar.

Confiscate Hussain’s properties, FIA

Notably, a few months ago, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) filed an application in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) here for the confiscation of the property of MQM leader Altaf Hussain and three others who were declared proclaimed offenders by the court in its last verdict regarding Dr Imran Farooq murder case.

MQM-London is currently not allowed to carry out its political activities in Pakistan due to a series of anti-Pakistan comments by its leader Altaf Hussain who is now not allowed to appear on TV screens. Altaf Hussain said in his video message, posted on MQM-L’s official social media platforms on 23rd March 2017 that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should help the Muhajir minority to be given rights in Pakistan.

Speaking from London, he said Modi should raise his voice for Pakistani Muhajirs and the people of Balochistan. He went on to say that migration was a ‘big mistake’ of the forefathers. He admitted that the MQM received funding from the Indian government.

This was not the first time when Altaf gave controversial statements. In 2016, Altaf Hussain chanted anti-Pakistan slogans during his telephonic address after which his speeches were banned from electronic media. During this speech, Altaf Hussain also openly threatened media houses and asked the electrified crowd to attack those media houses which don’t support Altaf Hussain.

Read More: Bhai Taken Again: Scotland Yard detains MQM founder Altaf Hussain

Altaf Hussain’s anti-state stance led to the break-up of MQM-L from MQM-Pakistan which was then led by Farooq Sattar, Hussain’s blue-eyed man. MQM-P disowned Mr. Hussain and clarified that there was no association between the two factions anymore.

Karachi has been seeing violence and acute law and order situation since the 1990s. Several people were killed, looted, exploited or made criminals for the political interests of Altaf Hussain. However, during the last government of PPP, the Pakistan Rangers were given the task to restore peace and order in Karachi. The situation has improved significantly.

Moreover, after Pakistan arrested Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Yadav whose codename was Hussain Mubarak Patel from Balochistan who later admitted that his job was to meet people in Karachi and Balochistan and spread violence.

“I commenced intelligence operation in 2003 and established a small business in Chabahar in Iran as I was able to achieve undetected existence and visits to Karachi in 2003 and 2004 and having done some basic assignments within India for RAW”, he said in a confessional video.

Read More: Scotland Yard drops charges against Altaf Hussain? Why?

Therefore, some analysts believe that the MQM from the 1990s under the leadership has been taking help from the RAW to destabilize Pakistan. There is a sufficient amount of evidence in the shape of Kulbhushan Yadav that Karachi has been the main target of the RAW. There are chances that the court will order to confiscate the property of Altaf Hussain.