Can Kamal, Qaimkhani help Scotland Yard probe?

LONDON: Former mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, and Anis Qaimkhani, leader of the MQM in Karachi till 2013, can help Scotland Yard in its investigations into the money-laundering case as well as the murder investigation of Dr Imran Farooq case, believed circles close to the London Metropolitan Police.

The News has been told by these circles that the Scotland Yard is fully aware of the disclosures and admissions made by the former top men of the MQM who have accused their leader Altaf Hussain and his associates Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir of admitting before the Metropolitan police to their involvement with the Indian spy agency RAW. The MQM has hit back saying that Mustafa Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani were “parachute” politicians who were working against the mandate of the party and that they have been trapped.  

Both the rebel MQM leaders once enjoyed the full confidence of Altaf Hussain and the duo remained at the heart of the MQM operations for almost all their political careers – until around two years ago when both fled Karachi in highly volatile circumstances. Mustafa Kamal has said that the decision was made after the “criminals” were brought to violently attack the senior leaders of the party after the general elections in May, 2013.

Mustafa Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani have made careful statements about their involvement at the heart of MQM politics and have not yet revealed anything highly incriminating but circles close to London police believed that both carry with them the treasure trove of secrets. 

Anis Qaimkhani, these circles said, is known to be the head honcho who ran Karachi with an iron fist using the sector incharges and militant wings. He reported to no one but directly to Altaf Hussain.

He looked after the “donations” collected from the city and then ensured that a share of these “donations” - called extortion and booty by the law enforcement agencies – reached London, the sources alleged. These are exactly the kind of proceeds that the Scotland Yard is currently investigating under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The sources claimed Anis Qaimkhani can provide crucial information to the investigators on how these monies were collected and who were the people who ensured that the money is safely sent outside of Karachi through banks, hwala and hundi. A top MQM leader confided that Anis Qaimkhani looked after the money collecting operations and he was the one who gave full information to the party chief.

Mustafa Kamal remained at the heart of political decisions made by the party chief. Circles close to London police are of the view that he knows important details about the expulsion of Dr Imran Farooq from the MQM and met Dr Farooq in London. He is aware of the differences that existed between Dr Imran Farooq and Altaf Hussain and has full knowledge of the issues that were discussed within the party after the murder, the sources said. Kamal is the one who held several one-on-one meetings with Altaf Hussain in the aftermath of Dr Farooq’s murder and put up a robust defence of the party.

The MQM has totally rejected all the allegations levelled by the dissident leaders. Moreover, no proof in support of their allegations was presented by these dissident leaders, a fact also highlighted by the interior minister in his press conference a day earlier.

A spokesman of Scotland Yard said that it’s continuing to seek information about the murder of Dr Imran Farooq as well as money-laundering investigation and will welcome anyone who could assist the police in its inquiries and establishing the facts around these investigations. The News tried to speak to contact the rebel MQM leaders but couldn’t get a reply. The MQM has said that it’s fully cooperating with the police.