London police seek another two weeks in MQM money-laundering case

LONDON: Scotland Yard has sought extension of two weeks in the MQM’s money-laundering inquiry after failing to meet deadline set by the court for 5th of October 2016 stating that it had received documents from Pakistan which the police needs to go through.

In a statement the police said late on Wednesday: “A timetable has been set by the court in the ongoing civil action for a cash forfeiture order, applied for under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to establish the origin of money seized by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The MPS were due to disclose the evidence of their case to the subjects by 16:00hrs on Wednesday, 5 October as part of the forfeiture timeline process. We are unable to meet this deadline and have requested a two-week extension, to serve our case on or before Wednesday 19 October, as there is further material, recently received by the MPS, that needs to be reviewed.”

Two weeks ago, a judge at the Hammersmith Magistrates Court had ordered investigators at the Scotland Yard to serve evidence in the cash forfeiture case – linked to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement money laundering case – by no later than October 5.

The parties – MQM founder Altaf Hussain, Sarfaraz Merchant, Tariq Mir, Iftikhar Quraishi, and Sarfraz Ahmed – were asked by the court to serve their defence in the case by Oct 26 to prove that the cash at their properties was legitimate and not ill-gotten money.

Sarfraz Merchant’s legal team indicated on Wednesday that they will challenge request of the police in the court this week so that the police couldn’t get more time and must be made to serve evidence on the accused without any further delay. It's understood that sarfraz merchant met his lawyers yesterday to discuss challenging the police request on the grounds that the police have taken too much in investigation and that the monies must be returned. Sarfraz Merchant Queen’s Counsel Mr Clegg had indicated at an earlier hearing that he will challenge the police decision.

A member of Sarfraz Merchant’s legal team questioned the documents received from Pakistan. He said that the FIA in Pakistan has a habit of spoiling investigations by dropping their hat in the ring. He said that his client had cooperated with the government inquiry, four months ago, set into the MQM’s RAW connections. He said that the FIA has shown through its conduct that its no-serious and doesn’t take serious matters seriously.