Gilgit ATC sentences Altaf to 81 years in prison
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GILGIT: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday sentenced Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to 81 years in prison, while issuing its verdict on a treason and incitement to violence case filed against the MQM supremo.
Fifteen cases were registered against the MQM chief in various police stations of Gilgit-Baltistan on charges of treason, incitement to violence and speeches against the state and armed forces.
Earlier on September 21, the court had reserved its verdict on the case.
ATC Judge Raja Shahbaz Khan sentenced Altaf Hussain to 81 years imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs2.4 million.
The court also ordered relevant authorities to confiscate the properties of the MQM chief and hold the same for auction.
Earlier on September 1, the same court had declared Altaf Hussain absconder for not appearing despite being summoned through a legal notice.
The court had warned that if Altaf Hussain failed to appear in the court on the next hearing of the case, the court would issue verdict against him.
MQM chief in his July 12 speech had accused Rangers chief and his subordinates for violating army code of conduct during the Karachi operation.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has already imposed a ban on media coverage of Altaf and airing of his images and speeches across all electronic and print media in a similar case.
Also Read: MQM withdraws resignations of lawmakers
MQM lawmakers tendered their resignations form both the houses of parliament and Sindh Assembly en masse on August 12 citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.
Later on October 9, MQM leader Farooq Sattar, while signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had expressed hope that the ban on MQM’s welfare and political activities and speeches of Altaf Hussain would be addressed by the government as per law.
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Comments (52) Closed
Oct 12, 2015 02:30pm
You have now alienated a large portion of your population.
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Oct 12, 2015 02:42pm
What a country!
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Oct 12, 2015 02:45pm
Bravo GILGIT ATC.
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Oct 12, 2015 02:52pm
Oh, so what? Altaf is still living and enjoying free life in London. courts should look into Nadipur power project, if they really feel that these courts are free.
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Oct 12, 2015 02:52pm
Hats off to our ultra speedy justice system. They don't waste anytime when it comes to MQM. Thank you making MQM stronger day by day.
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Oct 12, 2015 02:56pm
Some courts, judges, and lawyers in Punjab and Gilgit are working very hard to achieve, that the people of Pakistan remember Altaf Hussain continuously.
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Oct 12, 2015 03:03pm
Can this judge give a verdict for the extra judicial killings of the people of Karachi???
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Oct 12, 2015 03:05pm
I wish the same ATC court could be that quick in convicting all those captured by the LEAs and their cases are being heard by this ATC in GB, LeT, LJ etc.
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Oct 12, 2015 03:08pm
Please do something for your Constitutional rights instead of foolish jobs...!!!
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Oct 12, 2015 03:09pm
I can foresee all others parties are going to have their natural death including NS, PPP (already dead), ANP and JUIF and JI in next 5 yrs. Pakistan need 2nd national party, MQM has a choice to become national party or die in 5 yrs. MQM only survival is to alienate themselves from foreign leaders who don't understand any ground reality.
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Oct 12, 2015 03:29pm
So when will ATC convict lal masjid cleric for incitement of violence against the state and very own army in 2007
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Oct 12, 2015 03:30pm
Wow!!! this can happen only with the party & their leader who are true representatives of Poor/Middle Class, Educated People, where such people has a power and get tickets to become MNA/MP's and the only party not contain any Wadara/Jagidar/Chaudry etc..MQM/Altaf Bhai, we salute you!! we will always stands with you!! this punishment is not only for AH it is for all Urban Sindh and supporters from all over Pakistan.
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Oct 12, 2015 03:37pm
@IHO Pakistani very soon if cleric forcefully accept & announce their affiliation with MQM, otherwise it will never happen...
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Oct 12, 2015 03:47pm
What a political propaganda verdict. Will ordinary people get clean water, justice, education through this supercilious waste of time judgment, the answer is no, this is only to please their masters.
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Oct 12, 2015 03:52pm
So what. Altaf is enjoying his life in London. Now can you order your government to ensure his return?
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Oct 12, 2015 03:53pm
@Karachiites!!
Though i disagree with the verdict given as it'll have no implications on general public problems however, i do feel bad for delusional educated lot who're supporting this man AH and this party despite knowing there modus operandi...
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Oct 12, 2015 04:16pm
What about serving punishment to criminals / ministers in PMLN involved in Model Town massacre in the same spirit??
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Oct 12, 2015 04:24pm
@Shahzad Ikhlaq please name who you think are good enough to support; or just making a comment against MQM and swear them as usual.
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Oct 12, 2015 04:26pm
@Shahzad Ikhlaq My dear MQM is the only party who's workers even comes down to street to clear traffic!! their MPA/MNA/senior persons are accessible, i am common salaried person no relation with any political or business class even just recently start supporting MQM once the operation starts, I have a picture of my son sitting on Lap of Farooq Sattar and he & his family was just sitting with next to my family table in common restaurant/ Last year my family attends a function sitting with Faisal Subzwari & his family, I can go UC/nine zero any time for any problem, tell me any other party if not leader/senior persons just MNA/MPA's are accessible??
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Oct 12, 2015 04:28pm
@Shahzad Ikhlaq : What You call "despite Knowing" and they call it Propaganda against MQM. So simple dear.
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Oct 12, 2015 04:32pm
@Ronny, We don't buy the argument that portion of the population is irresponsible.
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Oct 12, 2015 04:32pm
what about peoples party ? no punishment for them for all th corruption done by them . They have literally taken the life out of Karachi ..no infrastructure , no development.
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Oct 12, 2015 04:34pm
The case against Altaf has been completed so quickly whereas the criminal is still enjoying luxurious life in London from the looted money of the poor Karachities.
Is this court decision going to change anything?
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Oct 12, 2015 04:47pm
@aamir i do not support any political party myself and haven't voted yet since i've been living outside Pak for 5 years but i feel let's give IK a chance, what worse he'll do then what already NS, AZ, AH & their like minded allies have already done to the country?? let him either ruin our country more or make it better, we're already doomed by these tested people so let's gamble again like how we've been doing for over 60 years.
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Oct 12, 2015 04:57pm
First do try to enforce human and democratic rights in your region then think for others...
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Oct 12, 2015 05:29pm
@M. Siddique Don't just write hate speech without knowing about the most educated and tolerant people of Pakistan who always live and love rest of the country people in Karachi . Stop hating us please.
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Oct 12, 2015 05:30pm
@Ronny : Politicians are not exempted from judicial process. Whoever commits the crime, should be penalized.
This is your sick mentality that makes you feel what you want to see. No part of population is alienated in fact. Pakistanis are more united and stronger than before.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:17pm
Its shame the very people who made Pakistan are prosecuted in Pakistan and many in Pakistan have not yet recognized the very existence of Muhajirs. It’s time to make a new province called Quaid Province with area of South Sindh and curved out large area from Southern Balochistan. Other option the way President Ayub Khan wanted a One unit with complete obliteration of provincial system will go well with Pakistan as it is much small than Texas state and Alaska State of US, each run by one governor. Considering Texas annual Budget is more than a trillion Dollar and population 30 million compare to Pakistan with annual Budget 34 Billion and close to 180 million population; It’s time to disperse population into areas of Pakistan not well populated . Mixing population the way they did in US will increase harmony amongst people and improve security. Otherwise local landlords will keep on fighting for their local influence to loot the locals.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:17pm
@Ronny why? By following the law?
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Oct 12, 2015 06:20pm
@Concerned Pakistani sebd a case his way and find out. I think you don't understand, judges don't give verdicts against an event. The pass sentences against criminals and the accused.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:23pm
@Karachiites!! Stop beating the same old horse. There are no waderas in Karachi and MQM has not reduced a single one in Sindh.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:26pm
@faizan file a case, bring witnesses and find out.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:26pm
@abdul does not matter. His return has become that much more difficult.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:32pm
@ashar when the accused is present the pace slows down to hearing his arguments. In Altaf case he was not present nor did he present an argument.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:54pm
@Shahzad Ikhlaq I would have supported Imran Khan if he talked about the real problems Karachi people face instead of just degrading Karachiites and blaming MQM for all the problems. Unfortunately Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif are two sides of the same coin. Since PPP & PML(N) have had their share, some cricket loving countries are trying to prepare Imran Khan as PM in waiting.
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Oct 12, 2015 07:18pm
@Naseer IK has also collected "bad eggs" in his basket along the way, though he seems naive when it comes to understanding politics but one can't disagree with his passion and urge to do something for his country, i meant to say since we've been giving turns to N league & PPP with MQM sitting as allies in most of the govt's and later giving excuses for their misdeeds, why not give an opportunity to IK and see if he can deliver what he's been preaching, i mean we've already been looted by these thugs so why not try him as well...country has been running on trial & error basis since independence.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:00pm
@Karachiites!! Once upon a time, along time ago they represented the masses of urban Sindh, I am afraid not anymore.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:02pm
No freedom of speech or political freedom ????
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Oct 12, 2015 08:05pm
@Naveed 246 election was not long time ago
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Oct 12, 2015 08:07pm
"incitement to violence and speeches against the state and armed forces" Let us hope that this judge also show guts to bring other politicians who also criticized & threatened the Armed forces of Pakistan, to name some are: Asif Ali Zardari, Khawja Saad Rafiq, Pervaiz Rasheed.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:11pm
Gilgit Zindabad. Gilgit-Baltistanis are true nationalists and patriots. Gid bless you :-)
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Oct 12, 2015 08:18pm
No chance of Altaf returning to Pakistan from UK.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:31pm
I'm glad that ATC is giving funny sentences. Soon, InshAllah, the supreme court will null and void all these funny verdicts from ATC.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:40pm
Excellent decision.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:41pm
The State must action to implement the court orders in letter and spirit.
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Oct 12, 2015 08:58pm
@Abdulla Hussain Let's do it!
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Oct 12, 2015 09:00pm
Resident of Gilgit: You can visit 90 any time (old house of Altaf Husain), mean 24 Hours, 365 days without ticket. You can meet MNA, MPA, and Senators on Altaf's 120 yd house FOOT PATH. They will talk to you at least.
Come to our Chief Minister's residence of Sindh, you cannot believe the level of security, it is 100 time more than WHITE HOUSE of Barack Obama. Because I have seen both the houses.
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Oct 12, 2015 10:28pm
Gilgit showed the guts. Thanks.
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Oct 13, 2015 04:14am
What is punishment for a person who deposes the elected civilian govt?
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Oct 13, 2015 05:29am
This Judge probably off spring of someone who Killed Liqaut Ali Khan. Shame on these psychos. Need for urgent province for muhajirs out of Sindh and Balochistan, that will boost both provinces; Like North and South Carolina or the way they divide Indian States; more representation. On the other hand, do we really need so many provinces and so many governors and so many assemblies and some many termites (Deemuk) in such a small country? Existence of provinces invites corruption; need to reevaluate the provincial system. This system was kept to keep local landlords in power; Sindh assembly is a good example, Qaim Ali Shah will remain in power till death and so many more, they have a network or clans around, this was not a vision of intelligent people like Bhutto...... .
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Oct 13, 2015 06:45am
What a joke.
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Oct 13, 2015 06:52am
@Naseer Wait, pretty soon You see slogans like wake up Punjab, wake up Khyber.
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