The London Metropolitan Police have returned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s passport, that they had previously seized, as par a statement on the party’s website .
Altaf’s passport was seized by British authorities during their investigation of a money laundering case in which the MQM supremo was a suspect.
After bail conditions against Altaf were removed due to insufficient evidence earlier this month, the restrictions on his movement were also lifted, the statement says.
Following the Rangers raid on MQM headquarters Nine Zero in March 2015, Altaf in an interview expressed a desire to return to Pakistan for the sake of his party.
He said he was unable to do so at the time, as his passport was in possession of British authorities. He added that he would visit Pakistan as soon as his passport was returned.
It is however unlikely Altaf would attempt such a trip, given the existing political scenario, especially in Karachi.
The MQM supremo has been in self-exile in London since 1992. He has controlled MQM operations in Karachi sitting in the United Kingdom for nearly 24 years now.
After Altaf Hussain allegedly spoke against state institutions, including the army and Rangers, following the Nine Zero raid, the Lahore High Court ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to ban the broadcast of his speeches and images.
Read : Karachi: MQM announces city wide protests against ban on Altaf’s speeches
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