LAHORE: Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the federal government on a petition seeking legal action against Altaf Hussain for allegedly speaking against the ideology of Pakistan in his speech on May 12.
Although the petitioner had not made the PTA a respondent in the petition, the judge advised him to do so as it was also responsible for providing the opportunity of live speech in Pakistan from abroad.
Along with including PTA in the petition, the petitioner also filed a civil miscellaneous application for interim stay on Hussain’s speeches.
The application would be taken up on the next date of hearing which would be decided by the registrar’s office of the LHC within two weeks.
Advocate Fayyaz Ahmed Mehr had filed a petition on Wednesday, stating that Altaf Hussain is a foreigner claiming to be the chief of MQM and his demands are against the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and also against the ideology of the country.
On May 12, during Altaf Hussain’s address to his party workers, he had threatened the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), establishment, media, workers of the political parties and politicians and also demanded that Karachi be detached from Pakistan, said the advocate in his petition.
The petitioner termed it a “conspiracy” and a move to destabilise and create unrest in the country.
He said according to the Political Party Order 2002, only an individual belonging to Pakistan or association of citizens of Pakistan can form, organise, continue or set up a political party in the country.
The petitioner stated Altaf Hussain is not a citizen of Pakistan and cannot claim to be the chief of a political party.
He added that the MQM Chief’s speech was anti-state and amounts to treason, therefore he [Altaf] should be brought back to Pakistan and be punished in accordance with the law. He also said that those working for Altaf should also be punished in accordance with the law.
He had also urged to stop all media outlets from giving coverage to the speeches of Hussain.