Lawyers protesting in the Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier today clamoured for the immediate suspension of the license of rights activist and former Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jahangir for representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a case relating to a media blackout against party chief Altaf Hussain.
The protests organised by Advocate Aftab Virk and others alleged that the MQM was involved in the murders of lawyers during the 2007 movement for the restoration of judiciary.
The protesters called for the cancellation of Jahangir’s membership of the Pakistan Bar Council and other legal bodies.
Earlier this month, the LHC ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) to ensure a complete blackout of all activities of the MQM supremo in both electronic and print media.
The ruling was made after a hearing of three petitions seeking a ban on media coverage of Altaf following his alleged remarks against state institutions, including the army and Rangers.
The court observed that there was sufficient material on record to order a complete blackout of the activities of Altaf Hussain, including what it called his hate speech, news regarding his activities as well as display of his picture across electronic media.
The petitions had been filed by Advocate Aftab Virk, Abdullah Malik and others.
