ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought the complete text of speech made by Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Wasim Akhtar in the National Assembly on Monday.

An informed source told Dawn that the court office had requested Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza through the National Assembly secretary to provide the copy of the speech in which Mr Akhtar had criticised the apex court for issuing a contempt of court notice to MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

Mr Akhtar had objected to the reported remarks of the SC judge describing the MQM’s mandate in Karachi as a “monopoly” while issuing the order for delimitation of constituencies in the city.

The source also said the NA Secretariat had already provided the required document to the Supreme Court, even those portions which had been expunged by the chair for being objectionable. On Dec 14, a Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had asked MQM chief Altaf Hussain to appear before it in person and explain why he should not be charged for his “contemptuous assertions against the judiciary”.

In a telephonic address from London to a gathering in Karachi on Dec 2, Mr Hussain had censured the judiciary by stating that judges of the Supreme Court should apologise for their remarks on delimitation in Karachi or face consequences.

On Tuesday, the MQM chief asked his party workers and supporters to remain calm and desist from using derogatory and contemptuous language against the judiciary.

The contempt case against the MQM chief will be taken up by the court on Jan 7 next year.