• MQM founder Altaf Hussain has lost London properties case
• The judge ruled that the MQM-P is the real trustee
• The court ruled that Altaf Hussain resigned after his August 2016 speech

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has lost £10 million approximate worth of London properties case MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P) after a legal battle at the UK High Court.

The case was filed by MQM-P leader and current federal minister Syed Aminul Haque, who represented the party in the UK court.

MQM founding member Nadeem Nusrat also appeared in court, while MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar gave a statement through video link.

Insolvency and Companies Judge Clive Jones, who sits as a High Court Judge in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Court of England and Wales, heard the case.

The judge ruled that the MQM-P is the real MQM and its members are the true beneficiaries of the trusts that control London’s properties.

The judge ruled that MQM founder Altaf Hussain had resigned from the party after his August 2016 speech.

The judgment implies that the court has ruled in the favour of MQM-P, currently led by MQM Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and against MQM-London, led by Altaf Hussain.

ICC Judge Jones ruled that the lawyer acting for MQM-P has established that the party April 2016 Constitution was adopted and “it has not been established that the 2015 Constitution was adopted and on the balance of probability it was not.”

ICC Judge Jones said in his judgment: “As on 23 August 2016 Mr Altaf Hussain stood down from any role in or involvement with MQM-P. Whether temporarily or permanently that did not alter before his expulsion from MQM-P when he formed a new association operating from London.”

The MQM-P and Syed Aminul Haque were represented by Barrister Nazar Mohammad and Altaf Hussain and his colleagues were represented by Richard Blake KC.

MQM founder Altaf Hussain is likely to appeal the decision.  The second part of the trial will deal with the income from the properties and the role of the trustees will be determined.

The case was lodged at the UK High Court by MQM-P’s Syed Aminul Haque against the party’s founder Altaf Hussain and other defendants for the control of the trust that controls six properties including the MQM Secretariat.

Nadeem Nusrat, Dr Farooq Sattar and former Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar supported MQM-P’s case and appeared in court against Altaf Hussain.

They stated that the MQM had not adopted the 2015 constitution and that the 2016 constitution existed when Altaf Hussain quit MQM- and was not admitted again.

During the trial, the MQM-P provided documents in the form of constitutions registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The party’s constitution of 2015 was not a part of the ECP records which the defendants including Altaf Hussain relied on.  The judgment shows ICC Judge Jones accepted stance of MQM-P and not the legal team of Altaf Hussain.

[embedpost slug=”no-regrets-for-disowning-altaf-hussain/]