Hate speech case: ATC remands municipality officer to jail

Suspect believed to be involved in applauding, facilitating hate speech by Altaf

KARACHI: The anti-terrorism courts’ (ATC) administrative judge remanded on Thursday a senior officer of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to jail in a case pertaining to ‘hate speech’ by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder.

The police presented Jawaid Raheem, senior director at KMC, before the judge and submitted that he was one of the suspects involved in applauding and facilitating a controversial speech by MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

According to the prosecution, the MQM chief, in his speech in February, allegedly made remarks against state institutions and attempted to insult the modesty of a woman.

The judge sent the KMC director to jail on judicial remand till December 26 and sought a supplementary charge sheet against the suspect on the next hearing.

Earlier, Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar and opposition leader in the Sindh Assmebly Khawaja Izharul Hassan were released on bail in this case, while Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other top leaders of the party are absconding.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2016.