India provided funds to MQM, claims BBC report

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has received funding from Indian authorities, claims a startling report published by the BBC on Wednesday.

According to the report which quotes an unnamed "authoritative Pakistani source", officials in MQM have told UK authorities that they received Indian government funds.

The report further states that UK authorities investigating MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons in an MQM property.

MQM Coordination Committee Member Wasay Jalil in response to the report posted a short statement to Twitter, rejecting BBC's allegations.

In response to a question on Twitter about a confessional statement available with Scotland Yard, Jalil said "We have seen these confessions since '92".

The report also said that British authorities held formal recorded interviews with senior MQM officials who told them the party was receiving Indian funding.

It also said that a Pakistani official has told the BBC that India has trained hundreds of MQM militants in explosives, weapons and sabotage over the last 10 years in camps in north and north-east India.

"A Pakistani official has told the BBC that India has trained hundreds of MQM militants over the last 10 years," the report says.

The report says, "Before 2005-2006 the training was given to a small number of mid-ranking members of the MQM, the official said."

"More recently greater numbers of more junior party members have been trained."

MQM responds

MQM reaction on BBC report by dawn-news

The MQM called an emergency meeting of its coordination committee after the BBC report was made public.

The party rejected all allegations made in the BBC report in a statementpublished on its official website.

In its statement, the MQM termed the BBC report a part of the "media trial that has been ongoing for past several years" against the party.

Polls open in final day of Egypt presidential vote

Voters check their names at a polling station in Cairo June 17, 2012. — Photo Reuters

CAIRO: Polling opened in Egypt on Sunday’s final day of a divisive election to choose a successor to ousted president Hosni Mubarak, in a race that pits a former regime premier against an Islamist.

Queues had already formed outside some voting stations before they opened their doors at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) with police and armydeployed outside, AFP reporters said.

Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi has promised that an Egypt under his leadership would be inclusive, and vowed to defend the goals of last year’s uprising, while ex-premier Ahmed Shafiq is standing on a tough law-and-order platform.

The election has polarised the nation, dividing those who fear a return to the old regime under Shafiq’s leadership from others who want to keep religion out of politics and fear the Brotherhood would stifle personal.