Disposing of the petition, the Sindh High Court (SHC) allowed Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) Chairman Afaq Ahmed on Thursday to freely carry out political activities and contact the authorities concerned of he is not allowed to do so. The estranged leader had sought authorisation of resuming political career in case of a probable ban by the government. The SHC bench including Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh disposed of the petition and directed the Haqiqi chief’s counsel that if anyone restrains the applicant from politicking, he should contact the law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, the same bench issued notices to Sindh chief secretary, Home secretary, advocate general and prosecutor general in a contempt-of-court petition filed against the detention of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) Chairman Afaq Ahmed, terming it “illegal and in violation of court orders”. The counsel on behalf of Afaq had presented the Sindh government’s notification regarding the applicant’s second detention under the MPO. On November 29, the provincial government had detained Afaq for a month under the Maintenance of Public Ordinance (MPO), despite an anti-terrorism court issuing his release orders after completing all legal formalities for bail in the last case against the Haqiqi leader. The same court also directed the Sindh government not to arrest Haqiqi’s press secretary Aleem Ahmed up to January 9 on his quashment plea. Through his counsel, Aleem had challenged a criminal case registered against him in the remits of Landhi police on the complaint of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist Khalid Hussain. The complainant – an employee of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board – had stated that Aleem had opened fire at him and wounded him on November 16. However, the Haqiqi press secretary in his quashment appeal stated that at the time of the registration of case against him, he was in the SHC premises to attend case proceedings of his party’s chairman.
