Altaf Hussain released on bail after police interview

LONDON: The Metropolitan police released Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain after interviewing him here at Southwark Police Station.

TV footages showed Altaf Hussain waving to the MQM supporters who had gathered outside the police station as his car drove him to his party secretariat in London.

The Scotland Yard has summoned Altaf Hussain in July without making public the date of his next appearance.

The news of Altaf Hussain’s release sent a wave of joy among the participants of the sit-ins in Karachi and Hyderabad. Jubilant crowed also emerged outside MQM’s headquarters – Nine Zero – in Karachi after the local TV channels broke the news of his release on bail.

The MQM supremo is expected to address via telephone his party workers and supporters who have been staging sit-ins since the day of his arrest.

Earlier, Altaf Hussain was taken to the police station from hospital where his medical reports were said to be clear.

The MQM Chief, who has remained in self-imposed exile in UK since 1991, was arrested Tuesday morning at his residence in London on charges of money laundering.

The police then brought the 60-year leader to the Wellington Hospital for his health condition and where he went through several medical tests whose reports showed normal results.