Altaf Hussain Discharged from London Hospital After 9-Hour Stay

News Desk

London/Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was discharged from a London hospital early Saturday after being admitted for the second time in a month, a senior party leader confirmed.

London-based MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi said Hussain was allowed to leave the hospital at 12:30am GMT (5:30am PKT) after spending nine hours in the emergency ward and undergoing a series of medical tests.

According to Azizabadi, doctors diagnosed Hussain with severe flu and a chest infection, prescribing antibiotics and advising complete rest.

“He underwent a blood test, electrocardiography, chest X-ray, and oxygen monitoring,” he said, adding that the MQM founder expressed gratitude to supporters who had prayed for his recovery.

Hussain was previously hospitalised on July 10 due to what party officials described as a “severe illness” and discharged on July 23 after multiple tests and blood transfusions. He also spent time in intensive care in February 2021, reportedly after contracting Covid-19.

In self-imposed exile since 1992, Hussain has lived in London—where he holds British citizenship—while maintaining political influence in Karachi through regular speeches to followers. He founded the MQM, formerly the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, in 1984 to represent Urdu-speaking migrants from India.

Under his leadership, MQM dominated urban Sindh politics after sweeping the 1988 elections but faced repeated allegations of using violent tactics—charges Hussain has denied, claiming the party was targeted by the state and rival groups.

Hussain’s political career has been marked by controversy, including a 2013 speech in which he was accused of hinting at Karachi’s separation from Pakistan and a 2016 address that sparked backlash after slogans were raised against the country.