Two MQM Rabitta Committee members detained at London airport

LONDON: Two members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabitta Committee were detained on Wednesday at the Heathrow airport in London, sources told Geo News.

They said that MQM leaders Shabir Qaimkhani and Kaiful Wara were taken into custody and questioned about deportation from the US at the airport.

Sources said UK Border Agency detained both leaders for three hours and were inquired about their travel details.

They further said that both MQM members are now at the party’s London secretariat.

In extraordinary developments on Tuesday, MQM Pakistan distanced itself from controversial anti-Pakistan statements made by the party leadership in London, with Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar taking control of the party leadership.

Sattar, flanked by senior leaders of the party, announced at a press conference in Karachi that future party decisions would be made by the MQM Rabitta Committee in Pakistan.

On Wednesday, party chief Altaf Hussain formally handed over the party powers to the Rabitta Committee in Pakistan.

In a statement issued by the party on its website, the MQM supremo accepted the decision announced by Farooq.

“I respect the decision MQM leaders have taken in their press conference. As founder of the party I hand over powers to makes decisions and, organising the party to the Rabitta Committee,” the statement said, BBC Urdu reported.

The party's website is blocked in Pakistan.