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Imran fears for his life

LONDON: Imran Khan, Pakistani opposition leader and former cricketer, is reported to have written to his British solicitor expressing fear for his life and pointing an accusing finger at the Muttahid Quami Movement (MQM) whose London-based leader Altaf Hussain is an ally of President Parvez Musharraf.

Mr. Khan has criticised British authorities for their “failure” to prosecute Mr. Hussain for allegedly orchestrating violence against Gen. Musharraf’s opponents during a rally in Karachi in May in which 42 persons were killed. In a text message to his solicitor, reproduced by The Independent, Mr. Khan,said: “Once Mr. Hussain thinks he is safe then my Karachi workers and my own life will be at great risk.”

The solicitor, whose name is also Imran Khan, was reported as saying there was “genuine worry about the safety of my client and he is in real fear.”

He said: “The MQM people know of his campaign [against Mr. Hussain]…and we know that MQM are allies of General Musharraf. Failure to prosecute means that MQM members in Pakistan will think that he is untouchable and that will give them more confidence to act their opponents like Imran Khan and other opposition leaders.”

After the Karachi violence, Mr. Khan came to Britain to call for Mr. Hussain’s prosecution under terror laws. In September, his legal team handed over to Scotland Yard a dossier containing a range of allegations against Mr. Hussain.

“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,” he said in a statement.

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