Freedom of speech: MQM workers protest Altaf’s speech ban

HYDERABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) organised a demonstration in several districts of Sindh on Friday to demand the lifting 0f the ban of party chief Altaf Hussain’s speeches in the media. Hundreds of workers staged protests in Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and other places. “We are being punished for our struggle for the people’s rights,” said MPA Sabid Qaimkhani at the protest in Hyderabad. MQM MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said such bans cannot be imposed to confine a particular political ideology from spreading among the people. “The people will never forgive the decision makers [for this],” he warned. The protesters called for permission to publish and air Altaf’s statements, photos and videos in newspapers and TV channels. “The law of the jungle will not last,” said Siddiqui. The protest started in the afternoon and continued till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.