PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly demanded on Monday the federal government lodge a case under Article 6 of the Constitution against Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain for instigating his party’s workers against the state.

The demand was made through a unanimously adopted resolution jointly moved by the treasury and opposition benches.

“This assembly recommends that the federal government review Altaf Hussain’s provocative speech and take necessary steps for registering a sedition case against him under Article 6 of the Constitution aimed at ensuring security of the state,” the resolution read.

It was supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Qaumi Watan Party.

The assembly also demanded the government take notice of Mr Hussain’s remarks against national institutions and about sensitive matters.

“He has not only insulted the nation but has also instigated his party’s workers to get training and fight against the state,” it said.

If Mr Hussain was not held accountable for his provocative statement, then there existed a possibility that national integrity, solidarity and federation of Pakistan could face dire consequences, it said.

The resolution was read out by Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan, Public Health Engineering Minister Shah Farman and QWP’s member Aneesa Zaib Tahirkheli.

After the passage of the resolution, Mr Farman said the MQM chief had committed disloyalty to Pakistan.

He criticised federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid for what he called his soft reaction to Mr Hussain’s speech. “The federal government has taken this serious issue very lightly,” he said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cautious reaction to this serious issue was regrettable, he added

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2015

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