Altaf Hussain ordered the activists to carry out acts of terrorism, the prosecution told the court

 February 11, 2022

Altaf Hussain speaks to reporters outside the courthouse as he appears in a London court on January 31, 2022

During the hearing of the hate speech case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, the prosecution told a 12-member jury that the MQM chief sat in the UK and incited his workers in Pakistan to carry out such acts. Which fall into the category of terrorism under English law.

Altaf Hussain, the founder of MQM, is being tried in London's Kingston Crown Court on August 22, 2016 for allegedly inciting workers to commit terrorist acts in Karachi in two separate speeches from his workers.

The Crown Prosecution has registered a case against Altaf Hussain under Section 1 (2) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Altaf Hussain has denied any wrongdoing.

The court was told on Thursday that accused Altaf Hussain would not testify before the court.

The jury was told that the defendant's decision not to testify did not mean that he had pleaded guilty and that it was the prosecution's responsibility to prove the allegations.

The prosecution counsel told the jury that the charges against the accused should be examined on the basis of English law and the cultural differences between Karachi and UK should not be taken into consideration while making the decision.

The prosecution said that the accused Altaf Hussain was sitting in a safe environment in the UK and was instructing his workers in Pakistan to take such steps which are an incentive for terrorism under British law.

MQM's hunger strike camp near Karachi Press Club, August 22, 2016

The jury was told that the accused was using violent tactics to get his demands from the government and to put pressure on the media.

The prosecutor said that the accused tried his best to gather millions of people to attack the Rangers headquarters and media houses but when he failed to gather the required number, he changed his plan and the Rangers The raid on the headquarters was postponed to the next day.

Prosecutors said the accused was well aware of how many people had gathered despite all his efforts, so he sent his staff to the media offices.

The prosecutor said that there was no doubt that the accused wanted to gather 500,000 people and send them to the Rangers headquarters.

The prosecution lawyer told the jury that the accused was well aware of the consequences if there were soldiers armed with automatic weapons and that he had mentioned sacrifices, martyrs and jihad in his speech. The prosecutor said that it was clear that the accused was giving orders to the people to be involved in terrorist activities.

(File photo)

The prosecutor told the jury that the accused had incited people to violence in various ways. Sometimes he said 'I will leave the party', sometimes he said 'finish the hunger strike camp and go home'. When people begged the brother not to do so, then he would start giving orders to them.

The prosecution counsel said that when the accused in his speech said that what the MQM has done in the past is in accordance with Shariah, he was in fact justifying the actions of the MQM in the past.

Prosecutors said the accused told his workers to "silence" journalists who wanted to "silence" us.

The jury was told that Altaf Hussain had said in his speech: "If you find any of them, do it quietly. Then go home and watch TV. '

Prosecutors said the accused's confidants knew exactly which journalists he was asking to be silenced.

Prosecutors said the accused was angry with the media for not publishing his pictures or broadcasting his speeches in the light of the Lahore High Court's decision.

Protest in London in February 2019 against the broadcast of Altaf Hussain's speeches and pictures on the media

Prosecutors told the jury that the accused had incited party workers to use violence against the provincial assembly. The accused in his speech said that these elders from Sindh come to Karachi to attend the assembly session. "Now when the assembly convenes, reach out to the millions and tell them that if they do anything against the refugees, they will not return from here."

Prosecutors said that as many workers as they could gather, the accused sent them to shut down the broadcasting and broadcasting of media houses which were not broadcasting his speeches. Stop broadcasting

Prosecutors also showed the jury video footage of an angry mob surrounding a police officer and snatching a weapon from him. The policeman was found lying unconscious on the road and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Regarding the apology issued by accused Altaf Hussain the day after the incident, the prosecution said that the apology was insufficient and that is why he is in court today.

Prosecutors said the defendant had the opportunity to present his case to the jury, but he refrained from doing so.

Prosecutors completed their arguments on Thursday.

The trial is ongoing.