MQM-London releases video to quell rumours about party founder

LONDON: The Muttahida Quami Movement's London chapter has released fresh pictures and video of Altaf Hussain, dispelling rumours that the MQM founder was long dead or unable to speak but confirming that he is not in good health.

The latest video footage does confirm that Altaf Hussain, 64, is frail, ill, and over-weight. Altaf Hussain's voice clearly suggests that he is not in good health and does not enjoy the same command over his own glides because of issues in the throat.

There have been suspicions for long that his health is deteriorating and many MQM leaders accept that Hussain has not paid attention to his wellbeing, but some days ago a female MQM legislator had said that an audio message by Hussain was dubbed by someone else in Karachi.

In the latest video and audio, Altaf Hussain wailed and cried most of the time and lamented the political losses he has recently suffered after his 22nd August speech. After the MQM-Pakistan took charge of the party affairs following Hussain's anti-Pakistan speech, it was stated that the MQM founder will concentrate only on his health and will stay away from political activities.

In the latest video, the MQM founder chided those who propagated that his voice was dubbed. He called on MQM Pakistan's MNAs, MPAs, and senators to resign from their seats and fight elections to get fresh mandate. He said that MQM-Pakistan was working against the interests of the local communities and its leaders were taking decisions for personal benefits. The MQM leader has made resignation calls through Nadeem Nusrat, Wasay Jalil, and Mustafa Azizabadi over two weeks but there has been no response and no lawmaker, barring one, has tendered their resignation.

Geo News has learnt from its sources that Altaf Hussain spoke to his workers over the weekend. Contents of his speech have not been made public but it is understood that Hussain subjected Major-General Bilal Akbar and Farooq Sattar to the highest level of criticism. Altaf called his party-men in the UK to do everything in their capacity to "expose" the MQM led by veteran politician Sattar.

A source told this reporter that Altaf Hussain called on his followers in Karachi to "take decisions locally about the traitors who have not withstood the pressure of the military operation".

Intelligence agencies in Karachi believe that serious threats exist to Farooq Sattar after the exchange of messages between London and Pakistan in recent days. An insider said that a sitting MNA of the MQM-Pakistan was in contact with the London chapter and was actively working against the interests of MQM-Pakistan.

The source said that the MNA is at odds with the MQM-Pakistan and some within the party have suggested that he should be barred from meetings. This MNA, the source said, has been passing information to the London chapter and has been taking orders from Nadeem Nusrat and others around him.