LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday termed interior ministry’s report on action under treason charges against Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s London-based leader sheer unsatisfactory and directed its secretary to submit a clear reply.

A full bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi observed the people who spoke against Pakistan deserved a strict action.

The bench was hearing identical petitions seeking cancellation of MQM’s registration as a political party and action against its founder Altaf Hussain under treason charges.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Arif Khan presented a report that showed cases were registered against Mr Hussain in Sindh for his hate speeches under Anti-Terrorism Act and other laws. He said the cases were pending adjudication before the trial courts.

The secretary said the cases against Mr Hussain had been discussed with British government recently and were taken up also by Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during his current visit to UK.

The report filed by the secretary showed that an advice had been sought from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the action that could be taken against the MQM.

However, it said, the party was registered in the name of Mr Farooq Sattar and Mr Hussain was not an elected/notified office-bearer of the MQM.

The official letterhead of MQM carried the name of Mr Hussain as founder of the party, the report added.

The secretary said interior minister was the competent authority to give final approval for registration of a treason case. He said the instructions from the minister could not be sought due to his (Ch Nisar’s) health issues.

However, Justice Naqvi disapproved the report and directed the secretary to submit a clear and comprehensive reply about registration of a treason case against Altaf Hussain.

A federal law officer said the government believed in good governance and honoured the court’s decision. He sought more time for submission of the required reply.

There was a laugh-out-laud scene in the court when Justice Naqvi, in a lighter way, asked the law officer to bring a letter from any prince other than of Qatar if the reply was not filed.

The bench adjourned hearing for two weeks. Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu and Justice Erum Sajjad Gull are other members of the bench.

Published in Dawn December 8th, 2016