UK Court Orders MQM-P to Pay Altaf Hussain £65,000 in Legal Costs
London [UK], July 22: The UK Court of Appeal Civil Division has ruled that MQM-P must pay £65,000 (around PKR 23.3 million) to MQM founder Altaf Hussain by July 30, 2024, for legal costs. Hussain won his appeal against MQM-P, who had split from him in August 2016.
Background
Three judges unanimously accepted Hussain’s appeal, overturning an earlier decision that favored MQM-P. The court also allowed Hussain to release £77,760 into his lawyer’s account, which he was previously required to deposit.
Future Claims
MQM spokesperson Mustafa Azizabadi mentioned that Hussain plans to claim over £100,000 for legal costs incurred during the initial trial phase.
Further Hearings
The court has remitted the constitutional issue back to the high court for further hearings to determine the legitimacy of amendments made to the MQM constitution in 2016. The hearings will assess whether Haque, representing MQM-P, can prove these amendments were constitutional.
Overturned Decision
Last week, the Court of Appeal judges overturned a previous ruling by Insolvency and Companies Judge Jones, which had deprived Hussain of six London properties worth around £10 million. Hussain argued that his party was taken over by Farooq Sattar and other MQM-P leaders, preventing his return after his August 2016 speech.
Press Conference
Altaf Hussain held a press conference to celebrate his win, thanking former accountability minister Shehzad Akbar for clarifying the case’s background. Hussain accused Barrister Farogh Nasim of conspiring against him and changing the MQM constitution.
Next Steps
The Court of Appeal has directed the High Court to investigate claims of violence against MQM workers in August 2016 and to reassess whether Hussain stepped down as party chief.
Doubts Revealed
UK Court of Appeal -: This is a high-level court in the United Kingdom that reviews decisions made by lower courts. It can change or uphold those decisions.
MQM-P -: MQM-P stands for Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan. It is a political party in Pakistan that split from its founder, Altaf Hussain, in 2016.
Altaf Hussain -: Altaf Hussain is the founder of the MQM party. He has been living in the UK since the early 1990s.
£65,000 -: This is a large amount of money, specifically 65,000 British pounds. It is the currency used in the United Kingdom.
Legal costs -: These are expenses related to hiring lawyers and going to court. It includes fees for legal advice and representation.
2016 -: This is the year when MQM-P split from its founder, Altaf Hussain. It is an important date in the party’s history.
£77,760 -: This is another large amount of money, specifically 77,760 British pounds. It is the amount Altaf Hussain is allowed to release to his lawyer.
Legitimacy -: This means whether something is legal or valid. The court will decide if the changes made to MQM’s rules in 2016 are valid.
Constitutional amendments -: These are changes made to the rules or laws that govern an organization or country. In this case, it refers to changes made to MQM’s rules in 2016.
Initial trial costs -: These are the expenses incurred during the first court case. Altaf Hussain plans to claim over £100,000 for these costs.
London properties -: These are buildings or lands located in London, UK. The court previously ruled that Altaf Hussain could not have six properties in London, but this decision was overturned.