By ABDULLAH 
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and exiled leader Altaf Hussain was rushed to a London hospital on Friday following a sudden deterioration in his health, the party confirmed. This is the second hospitalisation in recent weeks, raising concerns among his supporters about his well-being.
According to a statement released by the MQM Central Information Department, Hussain’s condition worsened unexpectedly at his London residence. An ambulance and a rapid-response medical team were immediately dispatched, providing initial treatment on-site before transferring him to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and care.
The MQM Coordination Committee has appealed to party workers and the public to pray for Hussain’s swift recovery. Senior London-based leader Mustafa Azizabadi also confirmed the development on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), assuring that updates on the leader’s condition will be shared in due course.
Last month, the 71-year-old politician was admitted to a London hospital due to what the party described as a “severe illness.” He underwent multiple diagnostic tests before being discharged. Hussain has faced recurring health challenges in recent years, including a stay in the intensive care unit in 2021 after reportedly contracting COVID-19.
Breaking: The health of MQM founder and leader Mr. @AltafHussain_90 has worsened again, after which he has been taken to a local hospital.
— Mustafa Azizabadi (@azizabadi) August 8, 2025
on Friday afternoon, August 8, 2025, Mr. Altaf Hussain’s health worsened again. Immediate medical attention was sought, and an ambulance was… pic.twitter.com/CIWXkFhBFL
Born on September 17, 1953 in Karachi, Altaf Hussain studied Pharmacy at the University of Karachi, graduating in 1979. His political career began during his student years when he co-founded the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in 1978, which later evolved into the MQM in 1984. The party quickly rose to prominence as the dominant voice for the Urdu-speaking Muhajir community in urban Sindh, winning a sweeping victory in the 1988 general elections.
However, Hussain’s political journey has been marred by controversies. Accused of using violent tactics, he consistently denied the allegations, claiming that MQM and its supporters were targeted by the state and rival political groups. His political career took a dramatic turn in the early 1990s, when a government crackdown forced him into self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom, where he obtained British citizenship.
From London, Hussain maintained significant influence over Karachi politics for decades, regularly addressing supporters via televised speeches. But his leadership came under severe strain in August 2016, when he made an incendiary speech against Pakistan, prompting a state crackdown that resulted in the sealing of MQM’s Karachi headquarters and his permanent separation from MQM-Pakistan.
In 2019, British authorities charged Hussain with “encouraging terrorism” under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2006. He was acquitted in February 2022 after a jury found him not guilty on both counts.
Since the 2016 split, MQM has been divided into multiple factions, including MQM-London and MQM-Pakistan. While Hussain’s political clout in Pakistan has diminished, his loyalists in London continue to regard him as the legitimate leader of the movement.
Despite internal divisions, the MQM’s influence in Sindh’s urban politics remains significant, though its future trajectory is uncertain amid evolving political alliances and reduced public support.