Legal battle intensifies between MQM factions for London properties

The legal battle for gaining control of seven London properties worth £10 million has intensified between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London and Pakistan factions.

The MQM leaders claimed control of MQM London properties and declared the party’s founder Altaf Hussain ineligible to possess the properties after being expelled as the party chief.

However, the former leaders of the united MQM were seen standing on different fronts for claiming control of London properties instead of giving a unanimous stance. Farooq Sattar – the head of MQM Bahali Committee – Nadeem Nusrat and Tariq Mir – former MQM London leaders and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Aminul Haque – Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders were seen on different fronts.

According to Dawn News, Aminul Haque surprised a UK court on Thursday when he admitted to having submitted an ‘incorrect document’ in the case he and others have brought against party founder Altaf Hussain, over the ownership of seven London properties.

London properties case: Is MQM founder Altaf Hussain going to be homeless?

He told the court during cross-examination that he had included with his claim a document purported to be the 2015 party constitution. It emerged a year later, by Mr Haque’s own admission, that the document was fake and should be discounted.

Instead, the federal IT minister beseeched the judge to consider a document which contained the MQM-P’s constitution from 2016, which disassociated the party from Mr Hussain.

Waseem Akhtar was also cross-examined by Mr Hussain’s lawyer about the 2015 constitution, but said that he was unaware of how it was drafted and disseminated.

Dr Farooq Sattar, who also gave evidence via video link, defended the steps taken ahead of removing Mr Hussain from the party. In his testimony, Dr Sattar had said he was under no pressure from the paramilitary force to break away from the main party, and that he did so of his own volition.

Former MQM convener Nadeem Nusrat, who is also in the UK to give evidence in the case, also insists he has been dragged into the case and did not initiate it. Mr Nusrat has been granted special security measures, and was allowed by the judge to give his testimony via video link while seated away from the main courtroom.

Nusrat said the breakaway MQM-Pakistan leadership should never have brought case of seven properties against the party founder at the London High Court.

Speaking to Geo News after giving his witness statement at the Properties and Business Division of the High Court before Insolvency and Companies Court (ICC) Judge Mr Clive Jones, the former MQM Convener said MQM’s founder and the MQM groups should have resolved this matter out of the court despite having differences.

“Both are spending half a million each to fight this case. This money should go to the deserving families of the MQM,” he said. Nadeem Nusrat’s entry into the case supports the case of MQM-Pakistan. Nadeem Nusrat said he had joined the trial reluctantly after MQM-London mentioned him in the case and left him with no choice. He was cross-examined by Altaf Hussain’s lawyer Richard Slade KC for over three hours.

Nadeem Nusrat told said that regardless of the outcome of the trial, he didn’t believe that the MQM-Pakistan leadership will honestly deal with the proceeds of seven London properties if at all sold in benefit of the MQM-Pakistan.

He said the London properties should neither go to the London faction or the breakaway Pakistan party, whose leader and Federal Minister Syed Aminul Haque has brought the claim against Altaf Hussain. Nadeem Nusrat questioned why Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was nowhere in the claim and in the case after having encouraged Syed Aminul Haque to start the case against Altaf Hussain.

Nadeem Nusrat has called on Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and others to vacate the MQM properties they were using for personal use.

Federal Minister of Communications and MQM-Pakistan’s leader Syed Aminul Haque has brought the case against Altaf Hussain to gain control of the following seven properties: Abbey View in Mill Hill where Altaf Hussain resides; 1 High View Gardens in Edgware which is on rent; 5 High View Gardens in Edgware; 185 Whitchurch Lane in Edgware; 221 Whitchurch Lane in Edgware; 53 Brookfield Avenue in Mill Hill and 1st Floor Elizabeth House in Edgware which used to be the MQM’s International Secretariat, according to The News.

The MQM-Pakistan has asked the UK High Court to give control of these properties to MQM-Pakistan as Altaf Hussain is no longer eligible to control these trust properties after the MQM was taken over by the Pakistan chapter of the MQM. The trial continues. Richard Slade KC is representing Altaf Hussain and Nazar Mohammad KC is representing MQM-Pakistan.

It was learnt that MQM Pakistan is possessing 35 properties, whereas, two out of nine London properties were sold by Altaf Hussain.

Analysts suggested the legal battle for the purportedly MQM properties which were apparently purchased by the donation and extortion money should be concluded in its return to the nationals instead of specific personalities.