MQM chief booked for 'sex education' speech

MQM leaders are also facing investigation over allegations such as organising the meeting, repeating Hussain's words

KARACHI: A case has been registered against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain by a woman against his speech on sex education, police said Saturday.

MQM chief had been filmed giving the controversial speech to workers in Karachi via phone from London, according to police.

A woman who saw the footage online of the alleged talk alerted police, who have now filed a case against Hussain.



"We have registered a case against Altaf Hussain and 20 of his party colleagues under the charges of publicly uttering immodest words after a woman named as Nasreen filed an application against them," Rao Muhammad Anwar, senior superintendent of police in the Malir area of Karachi, told AFP.

In a statement to authorities, Nasreen wrote she had been browsing the internet when she came across the clip of Hussain, addressing a mixed group of staff.

"He was publicly telling the women about the sexual contact between male and female and his party workers were also repeating his words. It seems that he was intoxicated," she said.

Anwar said other MQM leaders, including members of parliament and the party's candidate for Karachi mayor, were facing investigation over allegations such as organising the meeting and repeating Hussain's words.

But a spokesperson for MQM hit back, saying the investigation was unconstitutional.

"Our party is a law abiding party which believes in peaceful struggle and these kind of cases against party leadership is against the constitution of the country. We will face it in the court," said Amin ul Haq, who is also named in the case.



The party refused to comment on the accusations.

Talking publicly about sex is taboo in Pakistan.

The MQM, which is run by Hussain from London, is the main political party in Karachi, a city of 20 million.

It represents an ethnic migrant community and is the fourth largest party in the lower house of parliament with 23 members. But it has long been blamed for ethnic violence in Karachi and has clashed repeatedly with the authorities.