Daily Times

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an inquiry into alleged money laundering by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders in early 2016. However, its findings have not been added to the recently-lodged FIR against the MQM leaders. Instead, the FIR is completely based on the claims made by Sarfaraz Merchant.

According to a legal expert, registration of the FIR without the induction of the inquiry findings gives rise to speculation over whether the investigators were unsuccessful in collecting potential and substantial evidence or whether they wanted to gain some extra time for investigation.

Usually, officials of FIA lodge FIRs after the completion of inquiries and investigations to enable them to submit the interim charge sheet against the nominated persons.

A reliable source within FIA told Daily Times that the money-laundering inquiry had been started by the FIA Sindh’s Karachi office in early 2016 against MQM London chief Altaf Hussain and some of its other leaders.

“After almost sixteen months, the FIA recently registered a FIR against six leaders of MQM. However, not on the basis of the outcome and findings of that inquiry, but on the written complaint of Sarfaraz Merchant,” the source said.

Sarfaraz Merchant, in his complaint, claims that leaders of MQM would transfer money to Altaf from the accounts of party’s charity wing through Hundi.

Officials said that the money would also be transferred to Altaf through banks. Three different banks were used to send money to three branches of the same bank in London.

The money was also transferred through the account of MQM’s Khawaja Rehan Mansoor.

The FIR states that the leaders involved in the crime, include Khawaja Sohail, Babar Ghauri, Ahmed Ali and Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra.

Clauses of the Anti-Terrorism Act and sections on violation of banking laws were also included in the FIR.

In his application to the FIA, the complainant said: “I, Sarfaraz Anwar Merchant, whilst living in London, UK, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police after a raid at my house on December 5, 2013, on charges of money laundering on the basis of an investigation conducted into the funds held and controlled by the MQM.”

“In England, MQM claims to have been registered, but as a corporate body and not as a political party. Where reference is made to MQM as a political party, it is a political party in Pakistan. However, subsequently, it came to my knowledge that MQM was never registered in UK.”

“The investigation thus related to MQM political party operating in Pakistan and controlled from the UK by its leader Altaf Hussain while living in London.”

“After I was granted bail and during the course of investigation, a document dated April 15, 205 was handed to me by the police, which gave the entire background of the case. The police also asked me to read the documents and get ready to answer the queries of the investigation officer,” the complainant said.

It was stated in the FIR that heavy amount of money and assets were seized from the MQM premises in Karachi and the UK. It was also asserted that Altaf Hussain and other MQM members had received funds from the Indian government. Tariq Mir and Muhammad Anwar, in their interviews, had also alleged that MQM was receiving funds from the Indian government. These two were partners in the business with Altaf Hussain. Some senior members of the MQM were running the party from the UK.

Published in Daily Times, October 9^th 2017.