AFAQ AHMED's CASE
SHC allows MQM-H to continue political activities
* If any hurdle is put in their activities they can contact relevant authorities for protection: CJ
By Asghar Azad
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday allowed Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) to continue their political activities under the constitutional rights across Karachi. It said in its verdict: “If any hurdle is created in the party activities, they can get help of relevant authorities.”
The two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Mushir Alam and Justice Ahmad, was hearing a constitutional petition filed by MQM-H information secretary Aleem Khan and human rights activist Syed Iqbal Kazmi.
CJ Alam said in his remarks while giving order, as “it is basic right of every citizen of Pakistan to do political activities according to the Constitution of Pakistan and under the law. “You/applicant and his party would continue political activities and their displaced workers should go to their localities/areas”, CJ said in the order.
“If any hurdle is put in their activities they can contact with relevant authorities for protection,” the CJ said.
Khan stated in the petition that the government had imposed an unannounced ban on MQM-H’s political activities. He said that the act was not only a denial of Article 17 of the Constitution but was also violation of Articles 4, 9, 17, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
He further stated that a crackdown on the party leaders and activists were being carried out by their rival party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) through state machinery since the last nine years, as MQM remained a coalition partner of the previous and present governments.
Khan said in the petition that several no-go areas are still existing in different parts of the city, where MQM-H leaders and activists could not go for carrying out political activities, which was a complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on the Karachi law and order situation in which it had ordered removal of all the no-go areas in the city.
“Over 370 MQM-H leaders and activists had been killed during the democratic government tenure, while their party chairman was being incarcerated since April 2004 in false cases, and the process of registration of cases was still going on despite his detention in prison”, Khan said.
By Asghar Azad
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday allowed Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) to continue their political activities under the constitutional rights across Karachi. It said in its verdict: “If any hurdle is created in the party activities, they can get help of relevant authorities.”
The two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Mushir Alam and Justice Ahmad, was hearing a constitutional petition filed by MQM-H information secretary Aleem Khan and human rights activist Syed Iqbal Kazmi.
CJ Alam said in his remarks while giving order, as “it is basic right of every citizen of Pakistan to do political activities according to the Constitution of Pakistan and under the law. “You/applicant and his party would continue political activities and their displaced workers should go to their localities/areas”, CJ said in the order.
“If any hurdle is put in their activities they can contact with relevant authorities for protection,” the CJ said.
Khan stated in the petition that the government had imposed an unannounced ban on MQM-H’s political activities. He said that the act was not only a denial of Article 17 of the Constitution but was also violation of Articles 4, 9, 17, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
He further stated that a crackdown on the party leaders and activists were being carried out by their rival party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) through state machinery since the last nine years, as MQM remained a coalition partner of the previous and present governments.
Khan said in the petition that several no-go areas are still existing in different parts of the city, where MQM-H leaders and activists could not go for carrying out political activities, which was a complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on the Karachi law and order situation in which it had ordered removal of all the no-go areas in the city.
“Over 370 MQM-H leaders and activists had been killed during the democratic government tenure, while their party chairman was being incarcerated since April 2004 in false cases, and the process of registration of cases was still going on despite his detention in prison”, Khan said.
SHC notice in Afaq’s detention case
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) Thursday issued a notice to respondents on a petition challenging detention of MQM-Haqiqi chairman Afaq Ahmed under Maintenance of Public Order for 30 days. Human rights activist Syed Iqbal Kazmi, who is also representative of Human Rights Commission of South Asia, submitted that the Home Department put Afaq Ahmed under detention for 30 days following issuance of orders for his release in kidnapping case by Anti-Terrorism Court-II Karachi on Nov 29, 2011. He stated MQM-H chief was being victimised to keep him away from politics for last nine years during which he was implicated in motivated cases, his party men killed and incarcerated in jails. He contended government step of detaining Ahmed under MPO after release in last case was illegal. It was prayed to declare detention under MPO illegal and unconstitutional. On Thursday, Kazmi moved miscellaneous application requesting for urgent hearing of his plea through which detention under MPO was challenged. SHC division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, granted application and issued notice to respondents for Dec 7.
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