LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has reportedly been fined for tax evasion of more than £2 million in the United Kingdom.
Altaf Hussain has been fined for not paying over £2 million over a period of twenty years, while an investigation is underway to determine his full dues.
The investigation is based on income, payments, insurance contributions, and assets accumulation between 1995 and 2015. The tax authorities determined the income and monthly expenditures of the MQM leader and party workers.
The self-exiled leader has household expenditures and settlement payments to his former wife and daughter estimated at around 50,000 pounds per month. There are also dozens of workers working at the MQM office and his personal residence in London.
The MQM founder contested civil proceedings and stated that he has never been employed or had any income. Therefore, he was not obliged to pay income tax to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in London.
He reportedly told investigators that he received donations from party loyalists in Pakistan and abroad was entrusted to use those funds tax-free. The investigation has also created a rift between party leaders Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir leading them to part ways with Altaf Hussain.
Anwar and Mir have been named in the investigation but not accused of any wrongdoing. They have also been at odds over the transfer of two properties worth nearly £1.5 million in the MQM leader’s name.
The HMRC is of the view that paying taxes was the responsibility of Altaf Hussain and not anyone else associated with him.
ADVERTISEMENT
