A United Kingdom court on Tuesday cleared the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain from charges of encouraging terrorism by making fiery speeches to followers in Pakistan’s financial capital, Karachi.
According to the charge stated by the U.K. Police: “on August 22, 2016 published a speech to crowds gathered in Karachi, Pakistan which were likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom they were published as a direct or indirect encouragement to them to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and at the time he published them, intended them to be so encouraged, or was reckless as to whether they would be so encouraged”.
The verdict was reached by a majority (10-2) decision at the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, in London.
While appearing in “hate speech” case at the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown court on February 3, MQM founder slammed Pakistani military establishment for interfering in the politics of Pakistan. Hussain had criticised Pakistani army for several times in the past for discrimination and interference in democratic politics, including crackdowns on MQM activists.
In 2019 after his trail, Hussain argued outside of the court that he was the victim of a military-lead plot. In 2015 a high court in Pakistan had banned media channels from broadcasting his image and speeches.
“Over the decades the MQM has been the target of crackdowns instigated by the armed forces, which have directly governed Pakistan for much of its history and are still largely seen as the main power behind the country’s democratic veil,” Bloomberg report said