SHC seeks federal, provincial governments' replies on petition for ban on MQM

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday re-issued notices to federal and provincial authorities, directing them to file their respective comments on a petition seeking ban on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and disqualification of its lawmakers, following anti-state speech of the founder of the party on August, 22 2016.
Headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the SHC bench was hearing a constitutional petition filed by Moulvi Iqbal Haider, seeking a ban on MQM for its alleged involvement in anti-state activities. Earlier in August, the court had sought comments from federal and provincial governments but the same had not been filed yet. During Thursday's hearing the bench once again directed both governments to make sure submission of their replies by the next hearing.
The petitioner had submitted that the MQM founder had delivered anti-Pakistan speech on August 22 but the legislators of the party had not agitated against their founder. Instead of expressing dismay over the statements, the other leaders of the party just disassociated themselves from his vitriolic speech just for the sake of their own skin, he added.
He contended that MQM's legislators had no right to keep parliamentarians offices as they got votes in the name of their founder who was involved in anti-state activities. He requested the court to pass the directives of prosecuting the MQM's parliamentarians under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and Article 6 of the constitution of Pakistan.