KARACHI: The Sindh High Court’s single bench hearing bail pleas of Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) activists in cases pertaining to terrorism and sedition charges adjourned the hearing till July 10.
The court also ordered the relevant office to fix the case before the bench already hearing bail petitions of other co-accused. MQM activists Shareef, Irfan Alam and 13 others had approached the SHC to obtain bail in connection with cases registered against the party’s coordination committee’s members at different city police stations, following MQM founder Altaf Hussain’s anti-state speeches.
Police had booked MQM leaders, office-bearers and several activists for attending gatherings where the MQM founder had delivered anti-state speeches, including his incendiary speech to participants of an MQM protest camp outside the Karachi Press Club on August 22 last year.
The cases were lodged against the MQM founder and other party leaders under conspiracy, offence against state and anti-terrorism charges. Complainants had submitted in the FIR that they came to know about the MQM supremo delivering speeches against the armed forces and sovereignty of the country which hurt their feeling.
Investigation officers submitted that applicants were arrested after the August 22 arson incident outside the Karachi Press Club and they were identified by the witnesses before a magistrate. Headed by Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhatti, the SHC’s single bench directed the relevant office to fix the petitions of applicants before the same bench that granted bail to other co-accused.