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'UK decision on Altaf's extradition soon'

ISLAMABAD: The Proof given to British Government in respect of Altaf Hussain's patronization of terroristic activities "will bring a decision soon", said Kamran Shafi, Minister (Information) Pakistan High Commission in London.

Responding to a query, in an interview with BBC Urdu service, he said a team of officials from Pakistan visited London last month and handed over written statements of the Altaf Group terrorists to the British Home Office.

These statements were given by the Altaf Group terrorists before judicial magistrates implicating Altaf Hussain as their accomplice.

In this context, he said the details of Major Kaleem kidnapping and torture case in which Altaf Hussain has been awarded to 27 years rigorous imprisonment and audio/video proof of Altaf Hussain's and MQM's complicity in terrorist activities were furnished to the Home Department. Kamran Shafi said, more proof would be handed over to the British authorities very soon.

He said it must always be remembered that Major Kaleem's case was registered against Altaf Hussain at the time when MQM-A was in coalition with Jam Sadiq's government in Sindh and Nawaz Sharif's government in the Federation.

To a question whether Pakistan would accept Altaf Hussain's extradition to a third country, he said, "so far as we are concerned, we have asked for his extradition to Pakistan where he should undergo the sentence already imposed on him or appeal against it in the manner prescribed by law and answer other charges against him. We will react to Altaf Hussain's extradition to a third country when we are officially informed of such a step" Kamran said.-APP