Hate speech: ATC issues Altaf’s arrest warrants
Altaf has been accused of delivering a speech against sovereignty of the country. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
An anti-terrorism court issued on Saturday non-bailable arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and another leader of his party in a ‘provocative’ speech case.
Altaf has been accused of delivering a speech against sovereignty of the country and criticising the military establishment. The controversial speech was aired on news channels on July 12, last year after which around a hundred cases across the country were registered against him and his party members.
In this case, registered at New Town police station, the MQM chief, other leaders of the party, including Haider Abbas Rizvi and Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi, were booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, Mashhadi has been dropped from the case for lack of evidence.
ATC-I Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso issued warrants against Altaf and Rizvi and directed the investigating officer to present them on the next hearing on January 23.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2016.