ISLAMABAD: Following a Rangers raid on the headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the alleged recovery of a heavy cache of weapons, an Islamabad-based lawyer has filed a petition calling for disbanding the party.

In his petition, Advocate Tariq Asad maintains that it has been proved prima facie that the MQM — under the leadership of Altaf Hussain — was involved in terrorism and that their actions, particularly instigating people to violence, were heinous offences under the law of the land.

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Mr Asad points out that during the raid on Nine Zero, more than 100 terrorists, including notorious target killers and other wanted men, were found and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and Nato weaponry was recovered.

The petitioner referred to the ‘confessions of Saulat Mirza and others’ and said that in view of the ‘terrorist activities’, the MQM was liable to be dissolved under Article 15 of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002.

Under Article 15 of the PPO, when the federal government is satisfied that a political party is foreign-funded, has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is indulging in terrorism, it makes such a declaration by a notification in the official gazette.

Within 15 days of the declaration, the matter is to be referred to the Supreme Court and if it upholds the declaration, the political party stands dissolved forthwith.

The Supreme Court has been requested to summon the entire record of the raid from Rangers and intelligence agencies, and after satisfying itself that the material and proofs were sufficient to establish that the MQM was involved in terrorist activities, it may direct the federal government to issue a declaration under Article 15 of the PPO.

The court has also been asked to summon the MQM chief and directions have been sought for an investigation into and action against MQM activists that “Saulat Mirza and Amir Khan had implicated” in their statements.

The petitioner also requested the court to issue directions to the chairmen of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to block the televised and telephonic speeches of Altaf Hussain.

Instructions were also sought for the Sindh government, asking it not to name after Altaf Hussain two proposed universities — one in Hyderabad and the other in Karachi.

The petitioner also raised many constitutional questions, including whether a British national was entitled to remain a leader of a political party in Pakistan and instigate the people to create a law and order situation through telephonic addresses.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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