MQM rallies against ban on chief’s speeches

Karachi

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement staged a protest outside the Mazar-e-Quaid on MA Jinnah Road on Sunday against the ban imposed on airing party chief Altaf Hussain’s speeches on TV channels and publishing them or his pictures in newspapers.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM senior deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar said the massive rally had given its verdict that the ban imposed on the party chief’s speeches was unconstitutional and should be lifted.

He appealed to the Lahore High Court to review its verdict wherein it had banned the MQM chief’s speeches.

MQM leaders Faisal Subzwari and Khawaja Izharul Hassan while addressing the participants of the rally said the court should accept the decision of the thousands participating in the rally.

MQM leader Waseem Akhtar, who has been nominated the mayor of Karachi by the party, said the ban was unconstitutional and was hurting the sentiments of millions of Hussain’s followers He added that the party would take up the issue in the parliament and at the international level

The MQM leaders said the establishment banned the party chief’s speeches through the courts when he had pointed out the human rights violations by law enforcement agencies in Karachi during their operation.