Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Altaf, 20 other MQM leaders

ATC issues warrants for MQM leaders for facilitating Altaf's July 12 speech criticising the military

KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and 20 other senior party leaders for delivering and facilitating anti-Pakistan speeches.

The leaders were accused of delivering and facilitating anti-Pakistan speeches as well as inciting violence. The MQM leaders had attended a public gathering and listened to Altaf Hussain's outburst against security agencies on July 12 this year.



Farooq Sattar, Wasim Akhtar, MQM parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan, Khushbakht Shujaat, Rasheed Godil and Qamar Mansoor are among other senior party leaders against who warrants have been issued.

The ATC also directed that the accused be arrested and produced before the court on January 2.

Earlier in September, the ATC had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for MQM chief Altaf Hussain in the criminal intimidation case registered on the complaint of Colonel Tahir Mehmood of Sindh Rangers. In the FIR, Col Mehmood — who led the paramilitary force in the March 11 predawn raid at Nine Zero, the MQM headquarters in Karachi – maintained that Altaf in a television talk show threatened the officers who were part of the raiding team.



Several cases were registered in courts across the country under sections pertaining to terrorism and criminal intimidation over the MQM chief’s July 12 speech, in which he allegedly used deprecating language against the security forces and Rangers.