Gilgit’s ATC declares MQM chief absconder

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

GILGIT: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Tuesday declared Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain absconder for not appearing in a treason case.

During hearing of the petition filed against the MQM chief, judge Raja Shahbaz Khan issued notice to Altaf Hussain to appear before the court till Sept 10 in next hearing of the case.

The court 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.

Also read: LHC bans live broadcast of Altaf Hussain's speeches

Fifteen cases have been 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.

On 28 July, the ATC had issued ‘non-bailable arrest warrants’ for Altaf Hussain for using derogatory language against the armed forces.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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Pakistan

Jamil Nagri is a Gilgit-Baltistan-based correspondent for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. His reporting and feature writing focus on CPEC, climate change, the environment, and adventure tourism. He can be found on X at @jamilnagri.

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Shoaib Arif

Sep 02, 2015 06:44am

Uh....he's hiding in London?

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Khan-haqiqi

Sep 02, 2015 07:21am

Who cares

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naji

Sep 02, 2015 08:31am

Why Gilgit state feel pain in their stomach for Altaf issue. No body knows him in Gilgit. Do something for Gilgit people instead wasting your time.

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IMRAN ALI

Sep 02, 2015 08:35am

Every institution working beyond its jurisdiction...

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Cricket Fan

Sep 02, 2015 08:41am

Did he say specifically against the Gilgit people? Did Zardari wronged the Gilgit people even a little bit in his long term? Get Zardari first. He is more accessible. Makes no sense.

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Cricket Fan

Sep 02, 2015 08:50am

What is Gilgit's stance on the spot fixing trio?

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Khan- Pakistani

Sep 02, 2015 08:56am

@naji They know him as MQM has one seat in GB assembly !

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 02, 2015 09:07am

I wonder why MQM and Altaf Hussain as well as Rabta committee is totally silent these days. Are they gone underground? What is their strategy nowadays for being silent?

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 02, 2015 09:08am

@Cricket Fan LOL

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EuroStar77

Sep 02, 2015 09:19am

GBs are real patriotic Pakistanis and deserve to get statehood and representation in the national assembly.

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William Conqueror

Sep 02, 2015 09:28am

Next step??

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Khi92

Sep 02, 2015 09:34am

Excellent!

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Muhammad

Sep 02, 2015 09:52am

@Rashid Ishaq ...they figured no one is listening. .they have lost the fear factor..no more forced shut downs..Karachi is happy...so they have become irrelevant

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Master Blaster

Sep 02, 2015 10:13am

What he has to do with GB ? This is ridiculous...

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utopia

Sep 02, 2015 10:18am

how can "using derogatory language against the armed forces" be a cause for treason for a leader of the political party of the same country? Armed forces report to the government and political parties form the government, hence it can not be a treason to use derogatory remarks against the ruling party or any department which reports to the ruling party.

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Azam Jamil

Sep 02, 2015 11:15am

The Gilgit ATC hasn't realised one simple thing. Altaf Hussain has been absconding for over two decades.

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Azam Jamil

Sep 02, 2015 11:16am

@Master Blaster Its not if he has anything to do with GB. If a case is filed in any court in the Country, then that court has to make a decision. They are not concerned where the person is from.

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Karachite

Sep 02, 2015 11:39am

Man is irrelevant.

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Haider Rehman

Sep 02, 2015 11:47am

@Cricket Fan Case was registered not by Gilgit govt.

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M Rafique

Sep 02, 2015 12:01pm

@naji : Every Pakistani knows AH clearly and loudly by virtue of his deeds and action making hostage Karachities since long

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Srk

Sep 02, 2015 12:34pm

I don't abt MQM and Pakistan politics but altaff looks like secular person

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Skeptic

Sep 02, 2015 12:36pm

If he cannot even come to his base in Karachi, I don't see what Gilgit court's writ will do??

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Sam

Sep 02, 2015 12:59pm

I find it funny this even made it to the news, your worried about someone who is in a different continent, first catch the people within your borders or people who are accessible easily. For example Khursheed shah giving an anti-pak statement recently living in Pakistan having a home in pakistan...Leader of the opposition in Pakistan, what is the Chief or Gilgit or Pak Rangers doing for that...? I thought we have 0 tolerance for anti-pak statements, so the law should be equal for all, but yet we have double standards.....sad but true....

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Sam

Sep 02, 2015 01:05pm

really Gilgit...!! if you are so concerned about some guy sitting in London, you should be more concerned about people giving anti-pakistan statements and are still living in pakistan, are part of the government of pakistan. a recent example is of Khursheed Shah who said war will be declared if anyone touches zardari.... Why do we have such double standards, we need to erase these double standards and move forward as one nation, as law is the same for all, if we excuse one then we should also excuse the other. This is where justice comes in, which we all lack of.

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KeyPoints

Sep 02, 2015 01:16pm

It useless talking about this fellow. He has caused enough problems for people of Karachi and his game plan has been fully exposed. He is not newsworthy anymore.

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haibat

Sep 02, 2015 01:51pm

Is this a Joke ?

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IMRAN ALI

Sep 02, 2015 02:15pm

@Azam Jamil ....every court has its jurisdiction...

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erudite

Sep 02, 2015 04:48pm

Gilgit!!!! really??

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