The applicant had requested that the Pemra should stop local media houses from covering Hussain’s speeches. PHOTO: FILE
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday again sought replies on an application seeking ban on the media coverage of addresses and speeches by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain.
On May 24, the judge had sought replies from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and Hussain within two weeks. The federal government and Altaf Hussain have yet to submit a reply.
Lawyer Fayyaz Ahmad Mehr had moved the application in his already pending petition seeking a ban on MQM and the arrest of its chief for allegedly speaking against Pakistan’s ideology in his May 12 speech.
The applicant had requested that the Pemra should stop local media houses from covering Hussain’s speeches.
The judge had turned down the request for instant relief and had remarked that it would be appropriate to hear the other side before a stay order was passed.
In the main petition, Mehr had submitted that Hussain in his address to party workers had made threats to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the establishment, the media and political workers.
He said the MQM chief had demanded that Karachi be separated from Pakistan. The petitioner said that this demand violated the Constitution.
He alleged that Hussain’s speech amounted to a move to destabilise the country.
The petitioner submitted that under Article 5 of the Constitution, loyalty to the state was the basic duty of all citizens.
Mehr said Hussain’s speech was anti-Pakistan and amounted to treason. He said therefore he be brought back to Pakistan and be punished in accordance with law.
He said according to the Political Parties Order 2002, only Pakistanis could form, organise, continue or set up a political party.
He submitted that Section 5(1) of Chapter II of Political Parties Order 2002, did not allow Altaf Hussain to serve as an office bearer of a political party in Pakistan considering he was not qualified to be a member of the parliament.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2013.
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It is not the just one person who demanding separation from Pakistan, most of them are, but the problem is our Law does not do justice and everyone has free out of jail card. Once one fish is caught and brought to justice then others will learn from the experience. I say anyone's punishment be enough to tighten the grip of State
@Sana: And who was the audience dear? Learn to talk with facts. If you want to talk like this then i can also blame PTI burning KPK for their workers assassination in Bannu. Or I can blame Pml-N for any criminal activity in Punjab. The shops and businesses were closed only till 4.pm sister. All resumed after 4 so stop giving lame excuses. Where were you when MQM was protesting with dead bodies outside CM house. If the courts or government would have taken notice there would have been no need of this mourning day. And before complaining just go once to those families who had suffered the pain of losing their bread-baskets.
@Pakistani: Oh please, you want extra judicial measures? I do too, I want them against MQM militants. Two MQM goons killed two shopowners for opening their shops in Sindh today, IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE! Your day of mourning acheived nothing, people are already dying of starvation, they don't have enough money to feed their kids, and your bright idea is to shut down the whole state. So if that's what you want, then be prepared to go to court for murder, extortion, and every other illegal activity everyone knows MQM has been doing.
I wish our "independent" courts would have taken notices against extra judicial killings of MQM workers from May12.
Do we expect the Lahore High Court to take action against several Baloch Leaders who continuously and openly give anti Pakistan statements?
Division Pakistan is inevitable.
@Baffled: Yes instead the Punjabi leader Nawaz Sharif is shaking hands with the traitors of Pakistan and murderers of Punjabis.
Half of the Baloch Leaders demand separation from Pakistan .Why did you not sue them ? If this persists we will surely demand something you will not like .Then what how many are u going to take to the
Half of the Baloch Leaders demand separation from Pakistan .Why did you not sue them ? If this persists we will surely demand something you will not like .Then what how many are u going to take to the