LAHORE: The ministry of interior told the Lahore High Court on Monday that the government did not want to take any action in haste against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and its London-based head for anti-state activities.

Interior Secretary Arif Khan stated this before a full bench adding that any action taken hastily could have serious repercussions as the party had its political following especially in Sindh.

The bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi was hearing multiple identical petitions demanding a case of high treason against Altaf Hussain and cancellation of MQM registration as a political party.

As the bench resumed hearing, the interior secretary appeared before the court flanked by Additional Attorney General Naseer Ahmad Bhutta and other law officers of the government.

Asked if any action was taken by the government on the issue, the secretary told the bench that all the provinces in general and Sindh in particular had been engaged in consultation to seek their advice about any action.

He said the consultation process was to measure the impact of the government’s action.

The bench observed, “It seems that no serious action has been taken so far.”

“The government has a visible track record of not taking action even on grave issues,” Justice Naqvi observed when Mr Bhutta argued that Article 17 (2) of the Constitution did not require the government to take action in such matter within any specific time period.

The period of 15 days given in the article was for the government to send a reference to Supreme Court after taking an action against a political party, the law officer said and added the government did not want to take any action in haste.

Responding to subsequent queries to specify the government’s actions against the party in question, the interior secretary said besides engaging the provinces in consultation, the government also sought an advice from law division on the matter.

He said the government could be able to make a decision after best possible feedback from the provinces especially Sindh.

Justice Naqvi said everybody in the country wanted to know about actions by the government especially after the Aug 22 speech delivered by the London-based leader of MQM.

“Inaction on the part of the government could have serious consequences,” the judge said in his remarks.

The secretary asked the bench to grant some more time to come up with a clear response to the queries. The bench allowed the request and directed the secretary to submit a report by Nov 10.

Advocate Aftab Virk, Abdullah Malik and others had filed petitions for cancellation of MQM’s registration as political party and action against Altaf Hussain under treason charges.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2016

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