MQM founder Altaf Hussain has been hospitalized in London after serious illness, where he underwent a blood transfusion and a series of tests on the recommendations of his doctors, a senior party official told the media on Friday.
The MQM founder has been living in self-exile in the United Kingdom for over three decades, where he has also been granted British citizenship. His close aide says that he was under close observation of a medical team.
He was admitted to the hospital after a serious illness. On Friday night, rumours began circulating regarding his death. However, party member Mustafa Azizabadi said in a post on X that MQM founder underwent a medical check-up at the local hospital, where doctors conducted initial examinations and prescribed a series of diagnostic tests.
“The founder and leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain, has been admitted to a hospital in London due to severe illness, where various tests have been conducted on him,” said senior London-based MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi.
However, they denied the rumours of his death and said that he is doing well after being admitted to the hospital. He has been in self-imposed exile since 1992. From London, Hussain played an active role in politics, regularly broadcasting political speeches to his followers in Karachi.
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In a subsequent video message, Mustafa Aziz Abadi said that Hussain’s health deteriorated late at night, and he was admitted to the hospital upon the doctor’s recommendation. In a follow-up conversation, Aziz Abadi said that MQM’s founder’s treatment was ongoing, and hopeful, it is not something serious.
Meanwhile, an update from MQM Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Qasim Ali said that doctors have recommended various tests, including blood tests, an electrocardiogram, computed tomography, a scan, an x-ray, and an ultrasound.
“Altaf Hussain has been facing prolonged stress due to the national and international situation, multiple legal cases in London, and severe financial difficulties.
“Suffering from severe mental stress, doctors have prescribed blood transfusions in addition to medications for their treatment, and blood has been transfused,” said Qasim Ali.