The MQM chief has been ordered to appear before the court in person on January 7.
The court was hearing the case pertaining to the implementation of recommendations given by the Supreme Court in the Karachi unrest case last year.
A three-member bench presided by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued the contempt of court notice under Article 204 of the Constitution and Section 3 of the Contempt of Court law.
Altaf Hussain, in his telephonic address, had termed the judges' remarks "unconstitutional” and “undemocratic” and that they amounted to contempt for the mandate given by the people of Karachi and presented an “open enmity” for the metropolitan.
The chief justice said that the speech given by Altaf Hussain after the delimitation order was not only contemptuous but also held a note of threat.
Hussain had called on the chief justice, President Asif Ali Zardari and the federal government to take notice of the remarks, adding that constitutional action should be taken against the judges who made these comments.
He said the speech had contained unnecessary criticism and unnecessary allegations against the judges.
“Is it now expected of us to not even do our job?” enquired the chief justice, adding that the bench working for peace in Karachi was criticised.
The court also ordered PEMRA to provide a transcript of the MQM chief’s telephonic address.
COMMENTS (123)
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Yes, I'm a convenient scapegoat aren't I, given 55% of Pakistanis are Punjabi. You complain I dominate your Army - your military is at least 30% Pathan and has produced 2 Pathan dictators. And even one Muhajir dictator (Mushy, anyone?) You complain I drain your water - to produce crops that make that Roti in your kitchen a reality. Fact is that Punjab sustains Pakistan. Let any Punjabi go to Balochistan and get killed, let any Baloch come to Lahore and enjoy hospitality and a tikka.
We are not ethnic minded. You are. We speak Urdu and talk in terms of Pakistan. Consider doing the same, dear Sindhis/Pathans/Baloch/etc
we don't want to have such leaders who scared of living his own country, remove him from the leadership, as always lives outside of pakistan. He fears for his life! how can he provide security to other people..
We don't want him anymore remove him... send him to where he always living.. ban him from pakistan. rat leader always hidden.
@Umer: Dear, u people keep sticking everything to punjabies, punjabi is not responsible for your mistreatment and misbehaviour..so shut ur mouth against punjabies and face the truth,!!!!
@nak: you must have no common sense or sense of patriotism at all..........think a thousand times before defending such thugs who are a shame for the country and society
as if he cares !
go on altaf bhai keep on trying for gud nuthing is new for u
@Megatron:
@Umer: "Punjab is the only province which has undertaken military actions against all other provinces/ethnicities."
And where was the MQM during the Baloch slaughter? That's right...In the government, right there with GENERAL Musharraf & the CHAUDHRY brothers of Gujrat. funny how they munch away the sweet Punjabis, and spit out the 'bitter' ones!
Well guys - wait and reflect back! How much we hate mqm - lets recognise that ppl give them votes just like mujib used to get votes from former pakistan and establishment found innovate ways to deny them a chance - its not very old - we tried for 18 years and several elections but ppl again voted back awami league!!! We even used religious opportunist of the likes of JI but bengalis were politically more aware!!!! So, this supreme court selective action couldnt have been at more opportune time - so close to dhaka fall anniversary! Suggest take one more step and ban the party (remember we hate tham) which ppl have been electing since 3 decades now!!! Start army action - dont solve the issues instead hit them hard!!!! Lets try this with the politicalparties in balochistan as well!!!! Push them to realise what their brothers in their former province did in this very month few years agao to get their just rights........
they still haven't figured it out how to bring in mr. haqqani back from the states for hearing, and we are talking abt the bhai!!!
Why all these contempt of court are coming towards Sindhi speaking Sindhi's and Urdu speaking Sindhi's????? Why their is no contempt of court towards those who appose Pakistan in Baluchistan?? Why their is no contempt of court towards Taliban's in KP who are killing Pakistani Civilians, Military and not even recognizing Supreme Court??? Why their is no contempt of court towards Punjab's largest political party for not only physically attacking judges but attacking the entire supreme court building with terrorists???
Its time for the people of Karachi to think that conspiracies are taking place to push Urdu speaking sindhi's to the wall, and its time for all Karachites to unite and become a wall towards all anti-Karachi forces...
Big game near election!!! Hats off to PRESIDENT ZARDARI !! nthng gonna happen to ALTAF HUSSAIN!!! ZARDARI or REHMAN MALIK will force CJ to close the case nd they will use MQM like MUSHARRAF did..
"The return of altaf bhai" coming soon to a airport near u!
@Shahrukh kazmi: You passed 5th grade? i doubt it..
@Uza Syed: Looks like hate and hatred are your favourite words.The poeple who hate do imagine other people hating them .But mind it imagination will come true if you continue this game.
Nice job CJ. Its about time that the gunda gardi of political parties is brought to justice. Mr. Altaf is leading a major political party in Pakistan while sitting in London. How weird is that? Oh wait, he loves the people of Karachi, just can't come there. It's too dangerous for him and we are all retarded.
Will the chief Justice let go of the contempt cases and take a suo-moto against the Shia Genocide or the Ahmadi Grave Desecration?? These hypocrates are just shining their political careers
Why is ET taking forever to post what Altaf has said in response. Now, you have his detailed response, so post it. Otherwise, the intelligent people of Karachi would be justified in assuming that when it comes to the Urdu Speaking (avoiding to use Muhajirs, here) population, there is not a whole lot of difference between the left and the right in Pakistan.
@Junaid: Don't bet your life on it. MQM simply dances to the tune of the party in power in Islamabad. Sure, it creates mayhem in Karachi, when it wants to get its way, like a spoiled child throwing its toys out of its pram. And I don't advocate sectarianism in any way or form. It is destroying us as a nation. Anyone partaking in it, for whatever reason, should be dealt with. Permanently. No exile or pardon.
At least in Pakistan, Altaf can hide from justice. There is no hiding from law in UK for people of his ilk, now that a crime has been committed in UK at his behest.
@xyz: if he is british national, then what u say he got the right in pak's politics.????? and if he is also holding pak nationality, then he must come n face the court.
Dont worry Altaf bhai, world is gonna end on 21st December anyway, so u don't need to come to Pakistan..:D
Altaf Hussain may actually be looking forward to run away from UK in view of Dr. Imran 's case. So why doesnt he take this opportuinuty.He should be safe among his stanuch followers in Pakistan.
Altaf mustt be thank full,SCP is providing im a wellcome releief from UK murder case.Nothing is to conme out of this useless case .
Bhaiya of London should present himself infringe of court and prove that he represents the educated class of Pakistan as they always say mqm is the most educated party of educated people. LOL
At least someone can dare question the Bhai ! Get ready for retaliation...
Appear in "person"! hahahaaha! i didnt read after this sentence!!
@From Lahore:
He is Iftikhar Chaudhary not Iftikhar Baluch. Which Chaudhary belongs to Baluchistan?
slowly destroying the political system and opposition quiet . a public leader is above any judge and then can all supporters of PCO judge it their hands on their hearts and talk about the honesty of Pakistani courts, Zardari is deliberately letting these PCO judges get away with all because he doesn't want their blood on his hands Altaf supported the courts on NRO and now he has to pay the price and it won't be long before Nawaz sharif will be in the docks
There should be nothing Called contempt of Court. In a democratic and Islamic society nobody's action should be beyond criticism.The judges want to play god.
@ Uza Syed....Wake up and smell the coffee. I though Bhai and gang supported the PCO creater. The people of Sindh, especially Karachi & Hyderabad, should come out by millions to express their disgust at Bhai's statement about SC, but they dare not becasue Bhai rules the darkness of Karachi, once a City of Lights !!! If he is such a BIG hope than why not come back home and face the Law, Since the Imran Farooq Saga is nearly reaching its conclusion, it is perhaps a time for another move.....May be to Israel this time !!!!
Court should not muddle itself in new controversy .then people may say Supreme Contempt Court of Pakistan instead of Supreme court
Look at the bull. He is already in suspended animation following humiliating Scotland Yard raid on his GHQ in London from where he is pulling the strings. The self exiled MQM supremo in recent statement spoke against a judge who had made some remarks against delimitation. Altaf's tenor, as usual, was intimidatory and a veiled threat.Altaf thought that he can frighten the judges. I am pleased that the SCP has called his bluff.
Everyone needs to learn to respect institutions - if you can't then you must pay the price.
Surprised to see so many blinded supporters of Altaf the BHAI. Only one person in this state is doing his job and look at all the people criticizing him.
@Umer: you should have quoted my whole sentence, its not Punjab who has held Karachi hostage its MQM, over 6000 people have been killed in this 5 year term of your MQM, shame on you & your party. Now blame this target killing on Punjab too. Keep on trying to incite hatred but you will fail every time since people are more sensible than ever before & they believe in one Pakistan.
@Awad Rao:
Physically attacking Supreme Court is some other party's habit.
Well done Judges...Someone should rein him.
Most of the friends said that he is not a Pak national. If it is true, then how can he head a political party in Pakistan?
I also feel like doing a contempt of unjust injustice.
@From Lahore:
When generals, judges, bureaucrats plus the national assembly are all overwhelmingly from Punjab then who else to be blamed? Punjab is the only province which has undertaken military actions against all other provinces/ethnicities. Who else apart from Punjab is stealing away valuable resources of other provinces and thus keeping other provinces poor; and is keeping them subjugated by force either militarily or judicially?
He is a foreigner. he shouldn't be allowed any role in Pakistan's internal affairs and politics................
Bring 'BHAI' to court....
@Shahid: too bad the demographics of karachi have changed ;-)
GA Altaf and GA Karachi ppl
@Shan Nasir:
well said
Altaf hussain is a true pakistani leader and what ever he said was alsolutely right. But he is Muhajir, so ppl from Punjab, pathan and Sindhi hate him and called him ghadaar, they are actually scared with him. If Mqm is terrorist party , so why not Pak/ Punjabi Army or Paki government declare mqm is a terrorist organization and ban it activities.
@Faisal: Its not going to happen in even 100 years, Pakistan is for everyone not for specific sect or class to rule on others, if MQM has so many issues then why they stick like a leech to every Government??? MQM is not a popular party, popular party are those who are liked by people from across the country so its about time that MQM should pay the price for keeping Karachi hostage! Altaf just sits in London if he was a true Pakistani he would have never done such a cowardly act be leaving Pakistan, feel ashamed to even call him a Pakistani since he ran away abroad. And Bangladesh was 1000's of mile away it was strategically difficult to keep a hold on it so don't even mention about it, there were many factors which led to its independence.
@Tipu: not really, but it just might storm the Supreme Court, PML N would be able to provide the trained manpower
Looks like the seeds for Jinnahpur are being planted......
I am waiting for when MQM will leave the government............Election time has come for this stunt. He should come to Pakistan and explain his message to Supreme Court
@Imran Ahsan Mirza: The higher courts have enormous power to exercise.
Very Good move.
Those who are happy about this situation are some of the most uneducated people on the planet. This is a well planned conspiracy to create a 1971 type situation in urban Sindh, and the end result will be the separation of Mohajir dominated areas (Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur) from Pakistan, and into a Mohajir Republic. I can not believe this is happening...... so sad !
How dare a run-away criminal (responsible for scores of cold-blooded murders & torture to countless innocent people) criticize & insult our judges? If this man is fond of being called a leader of this nation, he should first come back to Pakistan & get himself cleared of all the offences committed by him from the courts here. Otherwise he has no business to poke his nose in our affairs. He has been rightly issued the contempt notice. The Britishers who are the self-styled champions of democracy, rule of law etc. should be ashamed of providing protection to people who commit crimes elsewhere and seek asylum in their country.
Scotland yard is getting closer to the killers of Imran Farooq and the Supreme Court is taking the right decisions.
Good Job Chief justice we are with u always .
@Khalq e Khuda: yes everything is done by Punjab such as Floods, target killings, bhata & so on! when are you going to take responsibilities? I'm sure you are one of those impersonators who are here only to incite hatred, so GET A LIFE & GROW UP .
P.S CJP is from Quetta not from Punjab :)
The supreme court has nothing to do with what Mr Altaf Hussain said. Millions of people endorse Altaf Hussain. This is the wisdom of Altaf Hussain. Millions of people raised their hands to what Altaf Hussain said contemptous(in SC view). It seems SC is going to rule the state in an authoritarian manner. It is not the deed of SC to rule the state and also SC must have such a courage to learn criticism besides issuong Contempt Notices. I think there is a dire need to impeach SC and make them as tolerant as they demanded to others. Shame on you supreme Court.
It seems like we are living in the past of MUGHAL SYSTEM OF HAD-E-ADAB!!!!!!
Arsalan may be able to provide a settlement.
Another hopeless egoistic step which will add no value to common Pakistanis life. You will have to issues these contempt orders to half of Pakistan bcoz pple know you are badly biased and express it almost daily. Day in day out non sense speeches given by judges, which should be a contempt than Altaf Hussain who is a politician and that there is nothing unusual about it in our environment.
Dear Editor: Y U No upload my comments?
ALTAF hussain does not hold any public office for that matter does not live in Pakistan either on what basis is Supreme Court wasting our time?
@xyz: If he is a British national, he should not speak about Pakistan nor should lead a political party in Pakistan!
Hope he comes although chances are nil. If his excellency do decide to come, SC needs to extend all time residency to him in Pakistan n let him take care n answer other outstanding cases as well. Welcome hope you show enough courage to come.
Judges have gone mad and will ultimately destroy their own institution. SC has no jurisdiction over Altaf Hussain. Criticism is not a contempt, only disobeying an order of court is considered contempt of court. SC is fast approaching a point of no return which may cause its own demise. Pakistani institutions refelct the failed state of the country and failure of its so called democracy. SC is now acting like General Ziaul Haque.
Altaf Bhai this is the time to show your appearance in Pakistan! ........ \
We just Knows how to create Motivation on just Telephone. "Ye telephone kisney banaya usko pakro "
Just when it looks like MQM is going down the drain there is someone who gives them the spark and get it going again, like Zulfi Mirza ended up with helping MQM by attacking its voters and it simultaneously, Supreme Court did the very same thing. Thus a Stronger and more vigorous MQM
It is all personal grudge of the Chief Justice......
Scotland yard is getting closer to the killers of Imran Farooq and the Supreme Court is taking the right decisions. It's a GOOD DAY!!
who will judge the judges ?
So, Ifthikhar Chaudhry himself seconds the comments of Justice Jamali "Delimitation ( in Karachi ) should be done in a manner that no Political Party or group ( certainly MQM ) can have 'monopoly' in City's mandate"Poor judge & their justice!This has been tried in city in past and the result was unrest in city and failure of the institute & persons came up with this wish to crush Karachi's mandate. So, let's see the fate of 'Supreme Court' and CJP this time.
The awakened and visionary citizens of Pakistan are with Mr.Altaf on this one. CJP should get out of his discriminative behaviour.
AH needs to understand that there are RED lines he should not cross.He is NOT perfect and should not meddle with the affairs of Superior & respected court.
A repetition of Musharraf's scenario but will be to no avail .. Courts have this as an effective offensive in there arsenal to block some one's entry in Pakistan but Altaf was not coming to pakistan anyways .. Wud that result in more voilence and and more resistance in the metropolis in a crucial build up to elections ...
I heard and read all the contents of that speech but I couldn't find something contemptous to issue notice. There are lot of other matters to be issued likewise. The honorable supreme court is reluctant to take necessary action against fundamental issues related to public interest. The sequences of these probes are heading towards enormous turmoil and aggitation which would wipeout the whole system and series of unwanted occurences. This is the time for all the stakeholders of state to avoid fanning the burning wounds of oppressed people of Karachi. It is the time to resolve the basic issues of public interest. State are not being oerated by notices. It needs firm action and measures of long-standing existence. Try to become sympathetic instead of becoming bone of contention.
hahahaha.. Altaf bhai best of luck. ;-)
I am NOT a MQM supporter, but whatever Altaf Hussain said was absolutely right !
@Dani: He holds dual nationality.
GA Altaf Hussain! Visionary leader!
@nak: Why would a person of Chief Justice,s stature be personal to a runaway fugitive?
How is this possible? He is not even a Pakistani national. The court should ask the British government to take care of him and stop him from issuing derogatory statements against the Pakistani court.
wasting time. neither he come in Pakistan nor CJ would punish him. instead now he will extend his condemnation statement against the SC and particularly CJ.
I am afraid one day the supreme court will give a contempt notice to itself.
Telephone in the SC.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Is physically attacking the SC allowed under the law? Where is the punishment for that? Why are non-Punjabis being singled out?
Read carefully its written January 7th not January 7th (2013).
"Bhai" under pressure from all corner, Scotland yard & SCP its about time, loving it :D
Hahahahahahaha ... you all have lost your minds .... everyone !!!
I have a feeling Chadhary will have to settle on being disappointed on the 7th. At least someone can tell the truth without being subjected to judicial tyranny.
18 years old Islamic Banking case in SC but CJ call Last month Case,,,,,,,,,,,hmmmm some thing personal,,,,,,,revenge of Court :)
Supreme Court of Politics!
All i can say is, wasting of time.
What is SC phone number? That's all he needs -:)
come on! this is unfair.
Bias CJ, Bias supreme court, only Altaf hussain UNBIASED,
@Dinky: It won't be the first time.
He has already been long time before ...remember 12May?
@Dinky: O come on, this time more then that.
Don't worry Altaf sb, you were not wrong. so keep it up.you fact more then this in past Inshalla you will Successful.
So now will MQM repeat its 12 May 'heroics' again in order to bar CJ from entering Karachi?
@xyz: Altaf is dual national.
It's about time!
The show starts now! GO SC - we with you!
How can Altaf bhai say something bad. Not possible! We are hearing impaired.
Political leaders when hold press conference, public meetings should avoid to use such language which may become a case of contempt of court.
Now Mr. Altaf Hussain should submit a public apology to the Supreme Court go get out from this case.
There are limitations for every thing. One should know as what are his limitations under the law.