KARACHI: Anti-terrorism court (ATC) today warned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar of media blackout and reissued non-bailable arrest warrant against chief Altaf Hussain and others in provocative speech case.
The court heard case pertaining to facilitation in hate speech delivered by MQM leader in 2015.
MQM s Waseem Akhtar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan and Rauf Siddique appeared before the court in the case however, Dr Farooq Sattar and other accused maintained absence.
The court resented the irresponsibility of the accused and warned of ordering their media blackout.
The judge stated that a letter could be written to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) highlighting that a fugitive could not address the people through media.
The court ordered the absentees to voluntarily make appear in next hearing.
Investigative officer was also ordered to arrest all the accused and produce them by May 7.
The court reprimanded the investigative officers and issued show-cause notices for not filing challans of eight cases.
Interim bails of Waseem Akhtar, Khawaja Izahrul Hassan, Rauf Siddique and Qamar Mansoor were extended until May 07.
Non-bailable arrest warrants of Dr Sattar, Rashid Godil, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Nasreen Jaleel and others were issued.
Some 22 cases are registered against MQM chief and other members in different police stations for delivering a controversial speech, allegedly provoking the people to act against army and other state institutions in 2015.
