KARACHI/BADIN/DADU/JACOBABAD: First Information Reports (FIR) were registered against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) supremo Altaf Hussain at police stations in various regions of Sindh on the night between Monday and Tuesday for what the government has regarded as his "inflammatory remarks" against the military.

During his speech on Sunday, Hussain called upon the army chief to take notice of the alleged violation of the army’s code of conduct by director general of Sindh Rangers and other officials and urged him to do justice in the matter.The MQM chief had also accused Sindh Rangers of torturing and murdering party workers.

More on this: Altaf accuses Rangers chief of violating army code of conduct

“Are Rangers a security force or a political party? Does the code of conduct of the armed forces allow the army, its paramilitary forces like Rangers, etc, to issue a charge-sheet against a political party,” Hussain had asked while addressing from London a convention of party workers on Sunday.

“We are not against the army; we are against the rotten eggs in the institution... Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif should save Pakistan and throw out the rotten eggs who have embezzled billions of rupees like civilians,” he said.

The speech was an apparent response to media reports quoting Rangers sources as saying that the paramilitary force was going to release a fact sheet about the March 11 raid on MQM’s Nine Zero headquarters in Azizabad.

Take a look: Rangers raid MQM HQ in Karachi, detain member of Rabita Committee

FIRs filed in cities across Sindh came as an apparent backlash to the MQM leader's speech.

In Badin, police registered an FIR 218/2015 under sections of 153 — "promoting enmity" — and 505 — "conducting public mischief" — of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of Wahid Bux Chandio. The complainant in his FIR registered at Model Police Station Badin stated that the MQM chief through his speech on Sunday not only hurt the sentiments of patriotic Pakistanis but spoke against the armed forces of Pakistan.

The complainant further stated that through his speeches from London, Hussain was spreading hatred against the military and wanted to destabilise the country under a conspiracy.

Station House Officer (SHO) Model Police Station Mr Wali Mohammad Chang in Badin told Dawn that police were gathering the details about Hussain. While speaking to local media, Chandio, who is the close aide of former Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, demanded a complete ban on MQM for its alleged anti-state activities and the party chief's immediate arrest.

Two more FIRs 167/2015 and 168/2015 were registered at Section A police station in Dadu by complainants Mohammad Rajib and Shahid Alvi Haider under Section 153A of the PPC. The complainants in their applications accused the MQM chief of speaking against the state and the Rangers.

Furthermore, at least three FIRs were registered in Jacobabad also under Section 153 of the PPC, out of which the details of two are available with Dawn. Complainants Qari Abul Khaliq Soomro and Khadim Hussain registered the FIRs 41/2015 and 69/2015 at Saddar and Airport police stations in Jacobabad.

In District Khairpur, an FIR (137/2015) was registered at the Faiz Gunj police station under Sections 153 and 505 of the PPC and Section 124-A of the Anti-Terrorism Act, whereas another FIR (197/2015) was registered at Mirwah police station. Moreover, in District Larkana, a first information report (64/2015) was registered by complainant Arsalan Habib under Sections 153 and 506-2 of the PPC.

An FIR against MQM leaders Altaf Hussain and Dr Farooq Sattar was also registered on Tuesday at Golra Police Station in Islamabad for committing sedition and making statements against the country’s security institutions.

FIR no 185 was registered on an application of a citizen Haji Muhammad Mehsood, police sources said.

Meanwhile, FIRs against MQM chief were also registered in Kohat and Hangu areas.

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan had on Monday lashed out at Altaf Hussain for his "derogatory speech", saying that no country could allow an expatriate to pass provocative remarks against its security forces and integrity.

According to a statement issued by the federal interior ministry on Monday, Nisar said Altaf's speeches "incite hate and and provoke violence", and labeled his remarks as "unacceptable" and "intolerable."

Read: Nisar slams Altaf for 'intolerable' remarks against security forces

In response to Chaudhry Nisar's remarks against the MQM leader, the party will held a protest at 4 PM outside the Karachi Press Club today.

Opinion

Editorial

X post facto
Updated 19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

Our decision-makers should realise the harm they are causing.
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...
IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...