Altaf left 'homeless' after party's victory.

LONDON -- In a major setback to Muttahida Qaumi Movement supremo Altaf Hussain, a UK high court judge ruled on Monday that his former loyalists who now represent MQM-Pakistan were successful in their claim to seven properties held on trust by the party.

The ruling, which came after a dramatic court battle that saw the MQM founder come face to face with his rivals, effectively leaves Mr Hussain without a claim to the properties, which includes the Edgeware house he lives in.

At a press conference held late on Monday, Mr Hussain said he would appeal the decision that he dubbed 'one-sided and disappointing'. 'It is unfortunate that during the trial, our point of view and evidence was ignored,' he said.

On the other hand, MQM-P hailed the 'landmark' decision, calling it the victory of the 'party's narrative'.

MQM-P calls London court decision win for party narrative; exiled leader vows to challenge 'one-sided' ruling

The case was initiated when a claim was brought against Mr Hussain and others in 2020 by federal minister for IT and TelecommuAnications Syed Aminul Haque and centered on which of the MQM factions is the 'true MQM' and therefore a beneficiary of the multimillion-pound property portfolio.

ICC Judge Jones of the Business and Property Court of England and Wales in his decision said, 'MQM-P is MQM and its members are the beneficiaries of the trust. It has not been established that the 2015 Constitution [claimed by Mr Hussain] was adopted and on the balance of probability it was not. The April 2016 Constitution [claimed by MQM-P] was adopted. As on August 23, 2016, Mr Hussain stood down from any role in or involvement with MQM-P. Whether temporarily or permanently that did not alter before his expulsion from MQM-P when he formed a new association operating from London.'

The hearings, which took place from November 2022 to January 2023, revolved around a claim to six properties plus the proceeds of the sale of a seventh - all of which are held on trust for MQM. In September 2020, Mr Aminul Haque initiated a claim to these properties as a representative of MQM-P, with an aim to remove the current trustees and to recover trust assets and rental income.

The crux of the claim brought by Mr Haque concerns the operation of MQM and its constitutional history. The judge noted that the roots of the claim date back to what occurred after a speech by the MQM founder on August 22, 2016. He said the speech resulted in unrest, and was followed by...