Acting Pakistan High Commissioner in London Imran Mirza along with two consular officers on Thursday was granted consular access to Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, who conveyed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's good wishes for his health, the Foreign Office said.
"On the Prime Minister's instructions, Imran Mirza, our Acting High Commissioner in London, had sought from the British government consular access to Altaf Hussain, Leader of the MQM," the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a statement here. She said the British authorities informed the Acting High Commissioner that in pursuance of his request, he would be permitted consular access to Altaf Hussain for 20 minutes.
"Consequently, the Acting High Commissioner, accompanied by two Consular Officers of the High Commission, called on Altaf Hussain Thursday afternoon, to enquire about his welfare and to convey the Prime Minister's good wishes for his health," she said.
A bouquet of flowers was also presented to Altaf on behalf of the Prime Minister, the spokesperson added. She said that Altaf thanked the Acting High Commissioner and requested that his deep appreciation may be conveyed to the Prime Minister for his message of solidarity, as well as for ensuring consular access to him. "He [Altaf Hussain] said that he was grateful for this noble gesture of the Prime Minister," the spokesperson added. MQM chief Altaf Hussain is currently in London's hospital after being taken into custody by the London's Metropolitan Police on Tuesday on charges of money laundering.