Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton on Wednesday said the British government had nothing to do with a money laundering investigation against the London-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

Speaking at a seminar titled “The Future of UK-Pakistan Relations: A Departing Perspective”, Barton said the case against Altaf rested with the London police, which is investigating charges against the MQM supremo. On Pakistan’s future, Barton said he believed the country was moving forward in four crucial areas – “democracy, security, economy and regional relationships”. Sharing statistics which portray a 48 percent decline in terrorism-related incidents, the British envoy saluted the bravery of Pakistan security forces over their successes in curtailing terrorism.

“Thanks to the UK-backed Counter-terrorism Associated Prosecution Reform Initiative, conviction rates in terrorism cases have increased from 5% to over 50% in Punjab and from 3% to over 30% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said. The British envoy argued that with democracy and a rapidly recovering economy, people in Pakistan now had more space to think about the future, demographic situation, environmental and economic challenges.

The London Metropolitan Police on Monday had informed MQM chief Altaf Hussain that his bail conditions, in an ongoing money laundering probe, had been removed as there was insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge against him.

The money laundering investigation was launched after the Metropolitan Police discovered hundreds of thousands of pounds during two raids — one on an MQM office and another on Altaf Hussain’s residence in London. The raids were conducted in connection with the investigation into Dr Imran Farooq’s murder.

Barton said, “I leave Pakistan next week at the end of my tenure as high commissioner, after my two years here, but also having first visited the country more than 20 years ago. But I leave more optimistic than ever about the future of the country. I believe the country is now on a positive trajectory in four crucial areas – democracy, security, the economy and regional relationships. “I salute the bravery of the Pakistan military – and their civilian counterparts in the police and other law enforcement agencies – as they carry out the very difficult task of tackling terrorism across the country.”

He outlined the positive role the UK had in Pakistan in the past, and the partnership it would like to continue in the future. The British high commissioner also argued that people in Pakistan now have more space to think about the longer term future, including challenges around demography, the environment and the economy.

Talking about Pakistan and UK ties, he said, “I am very confident about the future relationship between the UK and Pakistan. We are of course linked by history. One of the highlights of my time in Pakistan was to visit the Regimental Museum of the Punjab Regiment – my grandfather’s regiment in Mardan.” “But it is the people to people links that represent the present and the future. That is why the partnership between the UK and Pakistan is enduring,” he added.