Altaf Hussain acquitted in “provoking terrorism” case in UK

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has been acquitted by the jury in a London court over charges of provoking and encouraging terrorism in Karachi, on Tuesday. The MQM founder was facing two counts of charges related to encouraging terrorism, while delivering two speeches from London via telephone on August 22, 2016. 

During the trail, Altaf Hussain’s lawyer informed the court that his client would not take the stand.

The jury at the Kingston-upon-Thames crown court announced a majority verdict of 10-2 in MQM founder’s favour on the third day of deliberations. They declared that they found Hussain not to be in violation of the UK’s anti-Terrorism laws on 22nd August, 2016 when he made two speeches from London to his followers in Karachi.

The arguments in the case concluded on Friday last week, after which the jury retired for deliberations, according to the media reports. The judge, Justice May, told the jury that they might conclude that Hussain did not have an answer to the prosecution’s case, but the jurors could not convict him just for his silence.

MQM founder Altaf Hussain in a dilemma!

Justice May also told the jury that prosection had to prove guilt. She said that the prosecution did not have to prove that acts of terrorism actually occured, though it was their submission, adding that the meaning of intention and reckless was for the jury to determine.

During the trial, the prosecution argues that Hussain did not “answer, apologise, explain” his innocence or give answers to obvious questions. The defense counsel, however, said that Altaf Hussain did not have more to add. The counsel also said that Hussain’s apology on Twitter after the speeches demonstrated his regret.

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The former MQM founder has lived in self-imposed exile in London for more than two decades. He requested asylum in the 1990s and later gained UK citizenship.

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