London High Court freezes six trust properties of MQM founder Altaf Hussain

(Karachi) A British court has ordered freezing of six trust properties managed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, media reported on Saturday.

As per details, the orders were issued by Deputy High Court Judge Peter Knox. The six properties that have been frozen through a court order include: Abbey View house, High View Gardens first house, Whitchurch Lane first house, Brookfield Avenue house, High View Gardens second house, Whitchurch Lane second house, and the MQM 1st Floor Elizabeth House office.

Under the court directives, the MQM leader and his associates may remain in these properties until a final decision is announced on the lawsuit. However, they cannot be sold.

The case was filed by MQM-Pakistan claiming to be the beneficial owner of these properties.The ownership of these assets is more than 15 million pounds (about Rs3 billion).

The claim relied on material evidence from previous court cases in which Altaf had deposed that these properties are held on trust for the MQM.

The claim was started around two months ago in London on behalf of the claimant Syed Aminul Haque, the MNA from NA-251 Karachi, who is a Federal Minister and the Member Rabita Committee of MQM-Pakistan.

The MQM’s former senior leaders Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir have already told Altaf that they will not hand over the control of the two Whitchurch Lane properties.