Imran
Khan's Message:
'My Life Is In Danger'
By Kim Sengupta &
Andrew Buncombe in Lahore
15 November, 2007
The
Independent
Imran
Khan, the Pakistani opposition leader and former cricketer, was arrested
yesterday, less than 48 hours after sending a desperate text message
to his solicitor saying that he feared for his life.
Mr Khan had emerged after
11 days in hiding, having gone on the run to escape arrest in the aftermath
of General Musharraf's declaration of emergency on 3 November. Until
he was detained by police yesterday lunchtime, he was the last major
political opponent of the general still not arrested or under detention.
He was charged under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes penalties
that can carry the death sentence or life imprisonment.
However, Mr Khan had earlier
expressed his grave concern for his security in a text message sent
to his lawyer in the UK, in which he warned that failure by British
authorities to prosecute a key London-based ally of General Musharraf,
Altaf Hussain, could lead to lethal repercussions. His message to his
lawyer, also named Imran Khan, suggested another possible cause for
his arrest.
Mr Hussain, the leader of
the MQM party, has been accused of a range of criminal acts, including
soliciting murder and inciting violence. A dossier compiled by Mr Khan,
the London solicitor and human rights campaigner, on behalf of his namesake
has been handed over to Scotland Yard and an investigation is now under
way into allegations of money laundering.
In the text message, seen
by The Independent, Imran Khan says: "Once MQM [Mr Hussain] thinks
he is safe then my Karachi workers and my own life will be at great
risk."
Members of the MQM are said
to work alongside the security forces and friends and colleagues of
Mr Khan the politician say they fear for his safety because of his campaign
against Altaf Hussain.
Mr Khan travelled to London
in the summer to press for the prosecution of Altaf Hussain under the
UK's anti-terror laws after gunmen opened fire on supporters of Pakistan's
sacked Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sparking a day of
violence in May in which 42 people were killed.
Members of the security forces
are said to have stood by allowing MQM members to open fire. Mr Khan
– along with opposition parties, lawyers, and human rights activists
and journalists – accused Mr Hussain of orchestrating the violence
from London. The MQM denied the accusations. Mr Hussain claimed at the
time "it was a completely peaceful gathering by MQM supporters
that was targeted by a collaboration of three other parties".
Mr Hussain, 53, left Pakistan
for Britain in 1992 after an arrest warrant was issued in connection
with a murder. The chief justice is reported to have said that he would
pursue the murder charge against Mr Hussain if he ever returned to Pakistan.
Following General Musharraf's
announcement that the state of emergency would not be lifted prior to
elections being held, Mr Hussain said in a statement from his offices
in north-west London that all parties "should support the present
government and President General Pervez Musharraf so that the emergency
can be lifted, constitution could be restored and elections could be
held on schedule. I pay tributes to President General Pervez Musharraf
on making courageous and positive announcements."
Just before his arrest, Imran
Khan criticised British authorities for being slow in investigating
Mr Hussain and maintained this may have been due to government interference.
The Independent revealed that the British Government had liaised with
Mr Hussain in an attempt to ensure the safety of Benazir Bhutto when
she returned to Pakistan from exile to take part in elections which
the general says will proceed on schedule in January, but under the
state of emergency.
In a statement he said: "My
legal team presented evidence to Scotland Yard in September 2007 regarding
Altaf Hussain's criminal activities ... I am very disappointed that
over six weeks have gone by and although my lawyers have been keeping
in contact with Scotland Yard, a decision has still not been arrived
at...
"I sincerely hope that
the British government does not unduly influence Scotland yard ... Altaf
Hussain happens to be someone that President Musharraf regards as an
ally in his dictatorship in Pakistan."
Imran Khan, the solicitor,
said: "There is genuine worry about the safety of my client and
he is in real fear. The MQM people knows of his campaign and the information
which has been passed on to the police and we know that MQM are allies
of General Musharraf ... Failure to prosecute Altaf Hussain means that
MQM members in Pakistan will think that he is untouchable and that will
give them more confidence to act against their opponents like Imran
Khan and other opposition leaders."
© 2007 Independent News
and Media Limited
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