Non-bailable warrants issued for Altaf and 200 other MQM leaders

KARACHI, December 22: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, nominated Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, and 200 other party leaders over allegations of delivering anti-state and provocative speeches. The hearing of the case was conducted by anti-terrorism court N0-01 judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso.
The warrants were issued in a case of provocative speeches by the party’s London-based supremo, Altaf Hussain.
Reports said Waseem Akhtar, Dr Farooq Sattar, Rashid Godil, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Qamar Mansoor, Rehan Hashmi, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Senator Khushbakhat Shujat and others are booked in the case for organizing party meetings in which the MQM chief made speeches.
In July, 23 cases were registered against Altaf Hussain in different cities over his derogatory speech against armed forces.
Sections of terrorism were also included in the FIRs in which MQM’s MNAs and MPAs were also nominated. The nine police stations in Karachi East presented the challan of nine cases in court and declared the leaders of MQM as absconders.
The court while issuing the non-bailable warrants against MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Khushbakht Shujaat, Rasheed Godil, Qamar Mansoor and others and ordered the police to present them in court on January 2. The warrants of four women MQM leaders have also been issued.
The court also accepted a challan in nine cases against the party’s senior leader Rauf Siddiqi. Rauf Siddique has already secured bail in 23 cases.
The political leaders are accused of delivering or facilitating provocative speeches against the state. Same clauses have been included in all the FIRs registered against the MQM leaders. The FIRs have been registered in different police stations including Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Police Station, Sachal Police Station, Super Highway, Site, Sohrab Goth.-Sabah