Hussain arrested in London
June 3, 2014
Police would not confirm Hussain's arrest on Tuesday, saying only a 60-year-old man had been detained at his residence in north London. British police do not name suspects until they are charged. However, a spokesman from MQM head quarters in London confirmed the party leader had been taken into custody.
Hussain heads the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, one of Pakistan's major political parties which has its powerbase in the restive city of Karachi. He is wanted in his home country in relation to a murder case and remains one of Pakistan's most divisive and controversial figures. Hussain has lived in self-imposed exile in Britain since 1992, but regularly addresses large gatherings in Pakistan by telephone and is known for his rousing speeches.
News of the arrest aired on Pakistani television shocked Karachi, the country's most-populous city and economic hub. Residents closed businesses, rushed to stock up on groceries and fled home fearing prolonged riots. The Karachi Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost more than 400 points immediately following the news.
Karachi police increased security in the diplomatic neighborhood of the upmarket Clifton area, particularly around the British embassy, which closed temporarily.
"We have tightened the security of the consulates, especially of the British," said city police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo.
The MQM was formed in 1984 and is supported by millions of Muslim Urdu-speaking people whose families migrated from India to Pakistan when the country was created in 1947. The party represents itself as a moderate, secular voice in the country's politics.
Hussain's residence was raided by British police in 2012 and 2013 on suspicion of money laundering.
dr/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)