Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was charged with a terrorism offence in the UK on Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the 66-year-old had been charged in connection with a ‘hate speech’ he made to supporters in Pakistan in August 2016 under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act, 2006. He was presented before a Westminster Magistrate court to indict in the case where he pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against him.
In the court, Altaf Hussain’s lawyer pleaded for bail, which was conditionally accepted. However, the court imposed strict bail conditions, which include staying at a specific place and not to travel without prior permission of the court. The court also refrained Altaf Hussain from commenting on the situation in Pakistan, issuing any message on social media and restricted him from media appearance or conversation both in Pakistan and UK.
Wearing black suit and glasses, Altaf Hussain was looking in good health. He was accompanied by local party leaders. At one occasion during the court proceedings, the MQM founder broke down in tears when asked a question by the judge. Presenting the case against Altaf Hussain, the prosecutor told the court that being a British citizen, Altaf Hussain incited violence in Karachi on August 22, 2016, by addressing his supporter from London to close the media offices. As a result of his speech, the MQM activists clashed with police and ransacked a private television station in violence which left at least one man dead and seven others injured.
The formal proceedings of the trail will start on November 1 in London. The Crown Prosecution Service sources said there is sufficient evidence to successfully prosecute Altaf Hussain
Earlier in the day, Altaf Hussain arrived at Southwark Police Station in London for the third time in the last four months to answer questions by police in relation to the hate speech case. The Metropolitan Police in a statement said the 66-year-old has been charged in connection with a speech he made to supporters in Pakistan in August 2016. “Altaf Hussain (17.09.1953), of Abbey View, Mill Hill, NW7, was charged under section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2006 with encouraging terrorism, namely: On 22 August 2016 published a speech to crowds gathered in Karachi, Pakistan which were likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom they were published as a direct or indirect encouragement to them to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and at the time he published them, intended them to be so encouraged, or was reckless as to whether they would be so encouraged,” the statement read.
Altaf Hussain was previously arrested on June 11 on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act, 2007. He was released on bail and subsequently charged on Thursday. The UK authorities launched the investigations into the matter after an FIR was lodged in Karachi naming the MQM leader as the instigator. Pakistan then approached UK to investigate the case.
Scotland Yard confirmed last year that an ‘International Letter of Request’ has been sent by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to the Pakistani authorities, seeking help in its investigations in relation to at least two speeches made by the MQM founder. According to section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act 2006, a person commits an offence if:
(a) he publishes a statement to which this section applies or causes another to publish such a statement; and
(b) at the time he publishes it or causes it to be published, he
(i) intends members of the public to be directly or indirectly encouraged or otherwise induced by the statement to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism or Convention offences; or
(ii) is reckless as to whether members of the public will be directly or indirectly encouraged or otherwise induced by the statement to commit, prepare or instigate such acts or offences.
