ISLAMABAD: The Authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) have informed that proofs of money laundering and funding by India to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would be provided to Pakistan.
Sources in the Interior Ministry said that the funding to MQM by India and cases of money laundering by it were comprehensively discussed in the latest contacts with British officials. Matters relating to MQM came under discussion in meetings between Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Kkhan and British High Commissioner in Pakistan Philip Barton.
A highly placed official rejected the claim of Altaf Hussain that MQM never murdered any police officer in Karachi. He said that MQM had killed more than 200 police officers opposed to them. He further said that a big cache of arms was recovered in their raid on Nine-Zero, the MQM headquarters, in March. He said that the latest action on Nine-Zero was the continuation of the previous raid launched three months ago.
According to sources, the government has no intention to ban MQM. However it is clear that MQM will have to jettison its militants and military wing as politics and crime and violence cannot go together. Sources also said that Pakistan had asked for details of the MQM accounts frozen by UK to enable it to make its own investigations. Sources further said that intelligence had continued to be exchanged on the murder of Dr Imran Farooq for the last six months and it was on the orders of interior minister that right to access to two accused of murder was granted to Scotland Yard. Decision to access to third accused would be taken after Eid holidays.
It is learnt that Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan would brief Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif next week about money laundering by MQM, funding to it by India, and the progress made so far in Dr Imran Farooq murder case.
According to Online, the UK has not formally demanded that the accused in Imran Farooq case be handed over to them. It added that it was likely that
Pakistan would consider such a request if made. Quoting the Interior Ministry sources the report said that the 2-member Scotland Yard team had completed its probe against important accused in Imran Farooq murder case, and access to another accused had been granted. Another officer of the Interior Ministry disclosed that they had requested for access to the third accused also. It was attributed to security officials that Pakistan and UK were mulling over swap of Maozzam Al and others with Baloch separatists.
According to a BBC report, a security officer said, “We want to cooperate with each other on the policy of ‘give and take.”
Officials say that a 2-member FIA team led by Director Inam Ghani is investigating into the murder of Dr Imran Farooq and Indian funding to MQM.
It will submit its report to Interior Ministry next month whereas Scotland Yard has also been briefed on the issue.
The Security establishment has suggested to the government to exchange Baloch separatists with the top leadership of the MQM.