Altaf Hussain Challenges Decision to Hand Over £10 Million UK Properties to MQM-Pakistan in Court of Appeal

Altaf Hussain, the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has challenged the decision to hand over six UK properties worth £10 million to the United Pakistan faction (MQM-P) in the Court of Appeal. The hearing on the MQM's appeal began on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, and will continue on Wednesday, April 24. The proceedings are being broadcast live on YouTube.

The case has been ongoing since September 2019, when the MQM-P initiated a lawsuit over the MQM properties in London. On March 13, 2023, the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales ruled in favor of the MQM-P. In response, Altaf Hussain's faction of the original MQM filed an appeal in the Royal Court of Appeal Civil Division last year, which has now been granted a hearing.

In the previous judgment, Insolvency and Companies Judge Clive Jones ruled that the properties belonged to the MQM-Pakistan faction, not Altaf Hussain. Hussain's appeal is based on the interpretation of the MQM's constitutional documents and whether the party that owned the properties was the same entity as the one he founded. The MQM-Pakistan faction, led by Syed Aminul Haque, is the respondent in the case.

Altaf Hussain has criticized the previous judgment, stating that the judge failed to consider how his party was "hijacked" by the MQM-Pakistan leaders after his speech in August 2016, when he voluntarily relinquished his powers. He argues that the judge did not properly interpret the party's constitutional documents and the ownership of the properties in question.

Why this matters: The outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for the control and ownership of valuable MQM assets in the UK. It also highlights the ongoing power struggle and factionalism within the MQM, one of Pakistan's most influential political parties.

The Court of Appeal will hear arguments from both sides over the two-day hearing. Altaf Hussain's legal team will present their case for why the previous judgment should be overturned, while the MQM-Pakistan faction will argue in favor of upholding the ruling. The court's decision will be closely watched by supporters of both factions and could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the MQM and its assets.

Key Takeaways

• Altaf Hussain challenges UK property handover to MQM-P faction in court appeal.
• Hearing on MQM's appeal began on April 23, 2024, and will continue on April 24.
• Previous ruling favored MQM-P, stating properties belonged to that faction, not Altaf Hussain.
• Hussain argues judge failed to consider his party was "hijacked" after his 2016 speech.
• Outcome will have significant implications for control and ownership of MQM assets in UK.