KARACHI: An antiterrorism court reissued on Saturday arrest warrants for almost the entire leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, including its chief Altaf Hussain, in around 10 cases for delivering and listening to a speech criticising the military establishment.

ATC-I Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso again issued non-bailable warrants against Mr Hussain, Waseem Akhtar, party’s nominee for the position of Karachi mayor, Farooq Sattar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Rashid Godil, Khawaja Izhar ul Hasan, Qamar Mansoor, Kail-ul-Wara, Salman Mujahid Baloch, Rehan Hashmi and around 10 others for Jan 15.

The court reissued arrest warrants after the police remained unable to execute the previous warrants issued on Dec 22.

The police had submitted charge sheets in around 10 cases last month and shown the MQM leaders as absconders except Rauf Siddiqui, who is on a pre-arrest bail.

The prosecution said that the MQM chief in his July 12 speech had allegedly accused the Rangers chief and his subordinates of violating the army code of conduct during the ongoing Karachi operation while the other party leaders were booked for allegedly listening to their party chief’s speech.

The cases were registered under Sections 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 122 (collection arms, etc with intention of waging war against Pakistan), 123-A (condemnation of the creation of state and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty) and 109 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and Section 25-D of the Telegraph Act at Steel Town and different police stations of the city.

Over 100 cases were registered across the country against Mr Hussain and other party leaders for his July 12 remarks.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016