KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday instructed Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Wasim Akhtar to submit a reply by December 21 in a Rs500 million libel case filed by the Sindh Rangers.

Sindh Rangers had also submitted an application in the court, asking the presiding judge to issue a restraining order against the MQM leader, which would prevent him from issuing public statements against the Rangers in the future.

The restraining order has not been issued by the court yet.

Rangers have stated in the application that the "Sindh Rangers are a respected state institution, and their image was damaged by the comments made."

Read: MQM’s Wasim Akhtar booked over sedition, terror charges

The case was filed by the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch of the paramilitary force.

Rangers had sent a legal notice to Waseem Akhtar on October 26 asking him to explain the allegations that he had levelled against the paramilitary force.

In September, Waseem Akhtar had alleged on a private TV channel that the Rangers were involved in the theft of sacrificial hides during Eidul Azha.

Waseem Akhtar was also booked under sedition and terror charges in October.

The MQM leader was booked under Sections 123-A (Condemnation of the creation of the State and advocate of abolition of its sovereignty), 124-A (Sedition) of Pakistan Penal Code and Telegraph Act and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

Editorial

Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...
Dangerous law
Updated 17 May, 2024

Dangerous law

It must remember that the same law can be weaponised against it one day, just as Peca was when the PTI took power.
Uncalled for pressure
17 May, 2024

Uncalled for pressure

THE recent press conferences by Senators Faisal Vawda and Talal Chaudhry, where they demanded evidence from judges...
KP tussle
17 May, 2024

KP tussle

THE growing war of words between KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is affecting...