KARACHI: A court on Friday sent 11 individuals to prison on judicial remand in a case pertaining to their participation in an alleged rally in support of London-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain on Thursday night.

Police claimed that the held persons, including a lawyer and a journalist and vlogger, took out a rally near I.I. Chundrigar Road, chanted slogans in favour of Mr Hussain and carrying flags inscribed with “Jiye Altaf” and “48th foundation day of APMSO” slogans.

According to an FIR registered on the complaint of a police constable, the slogans were causing “tensions and hostility” and inciting political parties in the area, indicating that the situation could escalate further. Hence, police mobiles and personnel were called in, surrounding the demonstrators before arresting 11.

A case was registered at the Mithadar police station under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against the held individuals.

On Friday, the police produced the held persons in a court inside the Judicial Complex in Karachi central prison for remand.

However, the court sent them to prison on judicial remand.

Their lawyers filed bail application, which is set to be taken up on Saturday (today).

In a statement, the MQM-London contested the police account and claimed the individuals were arrested during a raid journalist and vlogger Tehseen Abbasi’s office located on I.I. Chundrigar Road.

It said that senior members of MQM’s Legal Aid Committee Advocate Idrees Alvi and Advocate Salman and 15-year-old son of Mr Abbasi were among those arrested and booked in the fabricated FIR.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026