LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was released on Wednesday after he was granted bail in hate speech case against him.

Altaf, who is a citizen of England is said to have refused to answer questions asked during inquiry by the officials of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism Command Unit earlier in the day.

The interrogation of the MQM founder started at 10pm on Tuesday and continued for two hours at the Southwark Police Station.

According to a private television channel report, the MQM leader had only confirmed his name, date of birth and his residential address in front of the London police. Afterwards, on the advice of his lawyer, Hussain declined to respond to the questions and chose to go for “no comment” option to all questions asked by the police officials.

The founder of MQM was arrested on Tuesday.

Earlier, the lawyer for the Government of Pakistan Toby Cadman said that according to the material he has seen, there is sufficient evidence to charge MQM founder Altaf Hussain.

“I have seen the evidence, I have reviewed all the evidence from Pakistani authorities and I can say that it presents a compelling case. It is my assessment that there is sufficient evidence to charge Altaf Hussain for a number charges,” Cadman told this scribe.

The lawyer termed the arrest of Altaf Hussain an important step. “Ordinarily a decision is made 24 hours after the arrest and then we would expect him to be produced before a magistrate and then formal proceedings to start from thereon,” Cadman added.

According to the lawyer for the Pakistani government, the likelihood of Altaf Hussain being charged was extremely high. “I would certainly expect him to face charges. He may be held in custody, he may be bailed. But he will be brought before a magistrate and face trial. What we have to understand is that this process takes months.”

Cardman further said that the Government of Pakistan would still have options if the Metropolitan Police or Crown Prosecution Service decided against charging Altaf Hussain.

“On behalf of the Government of Pakistan, I would advise a challenge to that decision, a judicial review of that decision. There is also the possibility of private prosecution. Obviously, we would like to see him prosecuted by the British authorities, by the Crown prosecution service but of course, there are options for to the Government of Pakistan if that process does not succeed. But as I said the evidence is there and the witnesses are willing to give evidence. Having reviewed that material I am entirely satisfied that he will be charged,” said the lawyer.—Agencies