Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan today left for London, where he intends to take legal action against Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, whom he has accused of instigating the May 12 violence in Karachi. Khan said he had been assured by a British diplomat that the UK would take action if any evidence was furnished.Khan, who was recently barred from entering Karachi—the MQM’s stronghold—told the media at the Lahore airport before his departure that he would assemble a team of lawyers by Sunday to initiate legal proceedings against Hussain, holding him responsible for the Karachi violence in which 42 people were killed.Khan did not directly say whether he would seek Hussain’s extradition as the MQM leader had British citizenship, but added that he would pursue a case as per British laws. He said he would base his case on the May 12 incidents in Karachi in which some activists of his Tehrek-i-Insaf party were killed along with other Opposition workers.The MQM, too, has said that several of its workers were killed in violence which erupted during the visit of suspended chief justice Iftikar M Chaudhry to address a rally. As Chaudhry was virtually barred from leaving Karachi airport, activists of different parties clashed.Hussain has already sought the services of Khan’s cricket rival and former pace bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz, also a lawyer, to counter his charges. Nawaz, who is in London, said he has collected a fair amount of material to counter Khan. Meanwhile, Laura Davies, spokesperson of British High Commission, here said on Friday that the UK would initiate action if any evidence was furnished against Hussain. “We condemn the violence in Karachi and urge restraint by all parties. Everyone in the UK must abide by British law. The same is true for Altaf Hussain,” Davies was quoted in the media as saying.About the possibility of Hussain’s extradition to Pakistan, Davies said, “I am afraid I cannot discuss details of bilateral discussions." She said it is a long-established UK policy and practice never to confirm or deny receipt of an extradition request unless or until an arrest pursuant to request has been made.
