Court told Altaf didn’t like Geo’s editorial stance on his politics

LONDON: The Old Bailey has heard from the lawyer of Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder and leader Altaf Hussain that the MQM supremo didn’t like the editorial stance of Geo News when he ordered his workers in August 2016 to attack several media houses in Karachi.

Altaf’s lawyer Joel Bennathan told the court on Friday that Altaf Hussain was upset and agitated at the way Geo News and two others channels – Samaa and ARY – censored his speeches and didn’t provide him coverage prior to his infamous 16st August 2016 address which ultimately led to the unraveling of his party and politics.

Honourable Mrs Justice May DBE heard arguments from both the defence and prosecution lawyers after Altaf made an application to the court for complete dismissal of the charges against him. The MQM founder didn’t appear in person due to coronavirus outbreak. The court gave him exemption from personal appearance as he had told the court that he’s in a frail condition.

The judge rejected the application of Altaf Hussain for dismissal of charges related to incitement of terrorism maintaining that a trial will go ahead in summer this year and only a jury will decide whether or not the MQM supremo is guilty.

Mark Haywood and Jonathan Polnay represented the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The legal team of Altaf argued that the charges were not right, not in accordance with the anti-terrorism laws and not appropriate and therefore should be dismissed.

His lawyer said the MQM founder had made the speech only for “political purposes” and didn’t encourage terrorism and didn’t mean to do anything violent including damage to properties or intimidation of opponents or any state institution or the media house.

He said the MQM supremo was only “unhappy” with Geo News and two other channels because “these stations had “stopped speeches of Altaf Hussain as a matter of policy over killings of his workers”.

He was annoyed that he was not given his due share, said Altaf's lawyer. He told the judge that Altafn’s speech was not deigned to intimidate public and damage property. He told the court that Scotland Yard didn’t arrest Altaf under anti-terrorism laws and decided to charge him only after an “intense period of lobbying by the Pakistan govt after the arrest”.

It’s understood his advisors and legal team are of the view that Karachi-based Sarfraz Merchant, who was once a co-accused in the money laundering investigation with Altaf Hussain, was involved in coordinating the legal effort against him after initially turning against his former friend nearly four years ago. Merchant was investigated with Altaf, Muhammad Anwar, Tariq Mir and others for over two years in the money-laundering case. In TV interviews, Merchant revealed details of how large amounts were moved around and how he gave money to Altaf Hussain and people close to him.

Altaf’s lawyer suggested to the judge that the Pakistani government was influencing the CPS case and Pakistani lawyer Toby Cadman should not be sitting in this trial. The lawyer said he didn’t understand why Cadman was sitting in the trial.

The prosecutors told the court that charges against Altaf should stay and a trial set for mid-summer this year should go ahead. They told the judge that Altaf had openly incited violence against the officials of Rangers, police and media.

The prosecutors made a reference to Altaf's speeches in which he issued direct threats to senior officers of Rangers. They told the judge that the inciting remarks of Altaf should be seen in the particular context of MQM’s history and politics. He said Altaf had apologized on record for the same remarks and the fact remains that he ordered his supporters to march on the offices of Geo, ARY and Samaa in order to intimidate them.

Altaf, 66-year-old political exile living in London for more than two decades, was charged with encouraging terrorism after a speech he made in 2016 to supporters in Karachi, which was also followed by violent protests.

He faces several years in imprisonment for the speech which was "likely to be understood" as encouraging supporters to acts of terrorism, or was "reckless" of the possible consequences.

A statement by Scotland Yard said at the time of charging the MQM founder: "Hussain, 66, who lives in Mill Hill, north London, was charged under the Terrorism Act 2006. On 22 August 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. Hussain was previously arrested on 11 June on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007. He was released on bail and subsequently charged as above."

The UK authorities launched the investigations into the matter after an FIR was lodged in Karachi naming the MQM leader as the instigator.