PM Nawaz Sharif is likely to get a significant boost out of this, which will silence his main opposition (Imran Khan and the Deep State). A truly master-stroke from a political genius, but the fall-out must be now handled carefully.
We do not expect AH to be extradited to Pakistan (the European Court does not permit extradition to a country where death penalty is legal and there is also a legitimate fear of torture at the hands of the state authorities).
For now Karachi is in crisis mode and we hope that peace will be maintained at all costs. The British High Commission is closed. We wish the hapless citizens all the best. Please stay safe!!!!
……
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain
was arrested on Tuesday in London on suspicion of money-laundering as
thousands of people in his home city of Karachi staged a sit-in calling
for his release.
The London Metropolitan police
confirmed that a 60-year-old man had been arrested from a northwest
London property on charges of money-laundering, but they declined to
disclose the exact identity for “legal reasons.”
The police said a Specialist Operations unit was currently carrying out a search operation at the property in northwest London.
DawnNews quoted the Scotland Yard as saying that the investigation would continue for 24 hours.
Moreover, London police has said that an audio-video statement has been recorded of the arrested man.
Moreover, a spokesman for the British High Commission said that the UK’s consulate in Karachi has been temporarily closed down.
“We
deployed extra security at the British High Commission in the southern
part of Karachi as soon we learnt about Altaf Hussain’s arrest in London
through media,” Deputy Inspector General Abdul Khalique Shaikh told
Reuters.
“We have increased police patrolling and we are making further deployments at sensitive spots in the city,” he added.
Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the issue of Hussain’s arrest was of an
extremely sensitive nature, adding that the government would take all
legal angles into account.
The premier has directed parliamentarians and members of the PML-N not to comment on the news.
……
regards
