The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking a review of its earlier order banning media coverage of Altaf Hussain.
The petition, filed through senior lawyers Asma Jahangir and Dr Khalid Ranjha, maintains that Altaf Hussain is the leader of a major political party and that restrictions on broadcasting or publishing his speeches are contrary to the principles of basic human rights.
The respected court should review its orders, the petitioners submitted.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, member of the MQM’s Rabita Committee Kanwar Naveed Jameel said that restrictions were placed on Altaf without listening to MQM’s stance. He hoped that the citizens of Sindh and Karachi would also get justice from the courts.
On Sept 7, a three-judge bench of the LHC headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi had ordered PEMRA to implement a ban on the broadcast, publishing and coverage of images, speeches, statements and activities of MQM chief Altaf across all electronic and print media outlets for his alleged remarks against the state and its institutions.
The LHC bench was hearing separate petitions arguing that the MQM chief should be tried for treason.
