No place for incitement of hatred in UK: Minister

LONDON: Britain’s Minister of State with responsibility for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has said that there is no place in the UK for the incitement of hatred or violence as UK has “strict laws in place to deal with this”.
Baroness Anelay of St John’s said this while giving written answers to the questions asked by Lord Nazir Ahmad of Rotherham about the Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), its leader Altaf Hussain, Karachi operation and the money laundering case in UK.
About the alleged hate speech investigation by the Scotland Yard Baroness Anelay said “investigations of alleged crimes and any criminal prosecutions are a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service, who are operationally independent of government”.
Lord Nazir had asked what assessment the UK govt has made of the “televised speeches made by Altaf Hussain which have been reported as inciting hatred and violence in Pakistan”.Answering question about the “outcome of the recent raid on the headquarters of the MQM”, the government representative said that the UK encourages efforts by the Pakistani govt “to strengthen the accountability of its security forces and to increase security in a way that is even-handed and consistent with international human rights obligations”.
Lord Nazir asked her what assessment the UK govt had made of the reports that Pakistani special forces in Karachi found alleged terrorists in the headquarters of the MQM, Baroness Anelay of St Johns said that the arrest of the individuals from the MQM headquarters was a “matter for the government of Pakistan”.
She added: “Increasing security and countering terrorism across Pakistan is in the interests of ordinary Pakistanis, regional stability and the UK. The government is committed to partnering Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, and will continue to support Pakistan in developing its capacity to deal with terrorism, and in addressing its root causes.
About the impact on relations between the United Kingdom and Pakistan of the presence in the United Kingdom of Altaf Hussain “who is alleged to have been involved in money laundering and terrorism”, the minister replied that “Investigations of alleged crimes and any criminal prosecutions are a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service, who are operationally independent of government”.
She added: “The UK continues to support the government of Pakistan in promoting good governance, economic development and stability in the interests of British and Pakistani national security and prosperity.”