Inflammatory speeches: arrest warrants for MQM founder, others issued

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday conducted hearing regarding 26 inflammatory speeches cases and once again issued arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and other fugitives. Khawaja Izhar, Rauf Siddiqui and Rehan Hashmi appeared before the ATC - however - Dr Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan, Kunwar Naveed, Qamar Mansoor and Mehfooz Yar Khan remained absent owing to illness. The absentees' counsels submitted applications in the court on their clients' behalf.
The court expressed annoyance over police for not submitting report and directed to take all four interrogation officers into custody. A verbal apology and request to grant time for submission of challan were also rejected. The hearing was adjourned till March 10.