MQM media incharge Aminul Haque. PHOTO: TWITTER
An FIR No 150/16 was registered against Haque on behalf of Rangers deputy superintendent Muhammad Ishaq of 73 Wings, Sacchal Rangers. In the statement, the complainant told the police that a recently produced anthem by the MQM media cell incharge on social media targeted Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Inter-Services Intelligence director-general (DG) Lt General Rizwan Akhtar, Karachi Corps Commander Naveed Mukhtar and Rangers, Sindh, DG Major General Bilal Akbar. 'The enemy who made us cry, we will make them cry now' are the anthem's lyrics.
"We have lodged an FIR against Haque after a paramilitary force officer on behalf of the Rangers submitted a plea to the police station, stating that Haque was spreading propaganda against Rangers through social, print and electronic media and that this act was demoralising the force and hampering operational activities," said the on-duty police officer at Azizabad police station. "Now, the case has been transferred to the investigation wing of the police for further probe."
MQM media in charge booked for ‘spreading propaganda against Rangers’
The complainant further stated that besides this song, other hate material was also being spread, which is against the nation and national institutions. "A conspiracy is being hatched to stop the Rangers and other law enforcement agencies to hold Karachi operation against criminals and terrorists," stated the complainant.
This is not the first case in which Haque was named in the FIR as earlier Haque and other party leaders, including the party's chief, have been named in dozens of FIRs registered across the country for hate speeches and threatening the military. Recently, Haque and about one dozen MQM leaders were nominated in a case registered at Civil Lines police station for organising a sit-in outside Chief Minister House on June 5 against water shortage in the metropolis.
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Right to free speech
The MQM's Rabita Committee condemned the registration of the FIR against Haque and said that it was against the principles of free speech.
The Rabita Committee also stated that MQM's official social media account was only used to portray speeches and activities of the party and its leadership.
It called upon the Prime Minister, the army chief and federal interior minister to take notice of false cases being registered against Haque and other party members.
"MQM is a patriotic party and would never go against any state institution," Haque told The Express Tribune. "Raids, arrests and FIRs will not deter MQM from conducting its political activities. MQM will continue its political activities in a peaceful manner. We have and will continue to respect institutions. However, the same responsibility also lies on these institutions to respect political parties."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2016.
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