The Lahore High Court (LHC) placed a ban on the broadcast of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s speeches.
According to reports, a three-member bench of the LHC hearing a treason case against Altaf issued notices to the MQM chief, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Javed Aslam and the federal government.
Further, the court directed the federal government to submit a record of Altaf’s speeches and his nationalities in court during the next hearing.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the treason case against Altaf till September 7.
Last month, the LHC had formed a full bench to take up the petition seeking trial of the MQM chief under treason charges.
Aftab Virk, the petitioner, had claimed that the interior and information ministries had failed to initiate action against the MQM supremo, despite his derogatory remarks against the integrity of the country and its armed forces. He said Altaf’s speeches were tantamount to treason and appealed to the court to issue directives to the executive to lodge treason cases against the MQM leader and members of his immediate political coterie.
About 50 cases have already been registered under sections pertaining to terrorism and criminal intimidation over Altaf’s July 12 speech, in which he allegedly used derogatory language against the armed forces and the paramilitary Rangers.
