LONDON: Citing lack of evidence, the Scotland Yard has dropped money laundering charges against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain in London, local TV channels reported on Thursday.

Similar investigations against another party leader Mohammad Anwar and Sarfaraz Merchant were also dropped by the London Metropolitan Police.

The Met Police had earlier in the month requested a two-week delay before deciding if they will try to confiscate cash found in the MQM’s UK headquarters and the residences of Altaf Hussain and Sarfraz Merchant.

“We are thankful that Scotland Yard have decided to drop the money laundering case against Altaf Hussain,” MQM leader Wasay Jalil tweeted soon after the reports surfaced.

Hussain was arrested in the case on June 3, 2014 by the London Metropolitan Police. However, Altaf was released four days later. Since then, his bail had been extended five times. Later, he was exempted from police station visits.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016