Altaf Hussain
The UK Court of Appeal has ordered MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P) to pay MQM founder Altaf Hussain £65,000 (approximately Rs23.3 million) in legal costs.
This ruling follows a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel at the Court of Appeal’s Civil Division, which accepted Hussain’s appeal and overturned an earlier decision that had favored MQM-P leaders.
The court has also permitted the release of £77,760 into Hussain’s lawyer’s account, an amount he was previously required to deposit after a single bench judge had ruled against him.
It is common practice for courts to order the losing party to cover the legal costs of the winning party, especially when the defendant has opposed requests or applications.
MQM-P spokesperson Mustafa Azizabadi stated that Hussain plans to launch a further claim of over £100,000 against MQM-P for legal costs incurred during the initial stage of the trial before the insolvency and companies judge.
MQM-P leader and the claimant in the case, Syed Aminul Haque, has confirmed that he will instruct his London-based lawyer to comply with the court’s orders.
This legal battle dates back to the 2016 defection of MQM-P leaders from Altaf Hussain, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the UK since the early 2000s.
Last year, MQM-P scored a significant legal victory over Hussain when the court ruled that seven London properties valued at about GBP10 million were the possessions of MQM-P.
The court declared the party to be the beneficiaries of the trusts and therefore the rightful owners of the properties.
Hussain’s recent legal victory marks a notable turn in the ongoing feud between the factions. The dispute has highlighted the deep divisions within the MQM, which once operated as a unified political force in Pakistan.
Hussain’s leadership was pivotal during the party’s formative years, but his influence waned following the 2016 split, which saw key leaders defect and form MQM-P, distancing themselves from Hussain’s controversial figure.
The case’s latest developments underscore the complexities of legal battles involving significant assets and the intricate dynamics of party politics.
The court’s decision to overturn the previous ruling and award legal costs to Hussain is seen as a vindication for the MQM founder, who continues to wield considerable influence from his base in the UK.
As the legal proceedings continue, both factions are preparing for further litigation, with Hussain poised to seek additional compensation and MQM-P gearing up to defend its position.
The outcome of these ongoing legal battles will likely have a lasting impact on the political landscape and the future direction of the MQM in Pakistan.
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