British investigative agency Scotland Yard on Thursday dropped investigations into the money laundering case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Founder Altaf Hussain in London.
Cases against senior MQM leader Mohammad Anwar and businessman Sarfaraz Merchant were also dropped by the Metropolitan Police.
Cases were wrapped up due to lack of evidence.
Earlier in the month, the Metropolitan Police requested a two-week delay before deciding if they will try to confiscate cash found in the MQM’s UK headquarters and the London homes of Altaf Hussain and the businessman Sarfraz Merchant.
It's been a great day & we are thankful2 Almighty God that SLY have decided to drop Money Laundering case against Mr AltafHussain #MQM
— Wasay Jalil (@WasayJalil) October 13, 2016
MQM leader Wasay Jalil tweeted, "We are thankful that Scotland Yard have decided to drop the money laundering case against Altaf Hussain."
The police found £167,525.92 in the MQM’s offices in London and a further £289,785.32 in Mr Hussain’s home. A smaller sum around £30,000 was found in Mr Merchant’s home.
The MQM supremo was arrested in the case on June 3, 2014 by the London Metropolitan Police. However, Altaf was released four days later.
He was granted four bail-extensions during the investigations:
- April 2015
- July 2014
- Dec 2014
- July 2015
During their investigations, the London Metropolitan Police had discovered ‘a considerable amount of money’ during raids on Hussain’s residence and office in London.
