Hate speech: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Altaf, others

Warrants have been issued by ATC-II judge in two cases related to MQM supremo's derogatory remarks in July 2015

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) supremo Altaf Hussain, Senior Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar and 19 other party leaders for delivering and facilitating anti-state speeches.

The arrest warrants were issued by a judge of the ATC-II in two cases related to July 2015 hate speeches by the MQM chief.

Altaf and some other MQM leaders have already been declared proclaimed offenders in at least 23 cases related to anti-state speeches by ATC-I.



A number of cases were registered across the country following a controversial telephonic speech by Altaf in July last year in which the MQM chief had allegedly issued derogatory remarks against the security agencies during his address to party workers at the party headquarters Nine Zero.



The other MQM leaders were booked for allegedly facilitating and arranging the gathering. However, Karachi mayor-elect Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Qamar Mansoor and Khawaja Izharul Hasan are on bail in these cases.

In October last year, a Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B)-based ATC had sentenced Altaf to 81 years in prison for his unsavouring remarks against the country’s security forces.

Pronouncing the judgment, ATC Judge Raja Shahbaz Khan also slapped a fine of Rs2.4 million on the MQM supremo, and directed the Sindh police chief to present Altaf before the court. The court ordered the confiscation of any property the MQM chief has in Pakistan.



According to the chargesheet, Altaf was conspiring to wage war against the state by inciting people. He had criticised the paramilitary Rangers over the ongoing operation in Karachi and cast doubts on the efficiency of the targeted crackdown.