Altaf Hussain, the founder and longtime leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has been admitted to a local hospital in London after his health reportedly deteriorated over the weekend.
According to official party statements posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, February 2, 2026, the 72-year-old political figure underwent a blood transfusion on Sunday night.
The procedure was recommended by a panel of physicians after his blood count dropped to concerning levels.
Party officials, including London-based leader Mustafa Azizabadi, confirmed that Hussain is currently under close observation. While his condition is described as stable, he has been prescribed a series of diagnostic tests, including,
Electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac monitoring to assess heart stress.
CT scans and ultrasounds for a comprehensive physical evaluation.
Ongoing blood work to monitor the efficacy of the transfusion.
The party noted that Hussain has been facing “severe emotional and mental stress” recently, citing the complexities of international geopolitical shifts and ongoing legal and financial challenges in the UK.
Historical Context: From Karachi to Exile
Altaf Hussain remains one of the most polarizing and influential figures in Pakistani political history.
He founded the Mohajir Qaumi Movement in 1984 to advocate for the rights of the Urdu-speaking community (Muhajirs) who migrated to Pakistan during the 1947 Partition.
Under his leadership, the party (later renamed Muttahida Qaumi Movement) became the dominant political force in Karachi and urban Sindh for decades.
Hussain has lived in London since 1992, following a state-led crackdown on his party. He eventually became a British citizen but continued to lead his party via telephonic addresses, a practice that was later banned by Pakistani courts.
As news of his hospitalization spread, supporters in Karachi and across the diaspora have been holding prayer vigils.
However, his health issues come at a time when his political influence has significantly fractured, with the party split into various factions (MQM-P, MQM-London, and others) following his controversial August 2016 speech.
The MQM Coordination Committee has appealed to the public and party “loyalists” to pray for his speedy recovery, while urging followers to ignore unverified rumors regarding his condition circulating on social media.
