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Pakistan's Premier Multilingual News Agency

AH; (One’s) Own Worst Enemy

By Adeel Mukhtar

Adeel Mukhtar

On June 11, 2011, London’s Metropolitan Police arrested an individual for instigating violence through hate speech in Pakistan. The New Scotland Yard, without naming the individual initially, stated that “a man has been arrested in connection with an investigation into a number of speeches made by an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan… The man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested at an address in north west London. He was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.” Detained in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and held in police custody, the individual was MQM Chief, Altaf Hussain. “The investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, is focused on a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person,” said the statement.

Mr. Hussain has a history of giving hate speech and rogue statements. This particular arrest, however, has been in relation to hate speech made by Mr. Hussain on August 22, 2016. After the speech, the ARY News office was attacked in Karachi and the Pakistan Rangers had to detain MQM senior leader to stop further escalation of situation. The main line from Mr. Hussain’s hate speech was “Pakistan is cancer for entire world”. Later on, ironically, Mr. Hussain apologised for it, giving excuse of severe mental stress. “From the depth of heart, I beg pardon from my remarks against Pakistan, the establishment including Gen Raheel Sharif and DG Rangers,” he said in a statement shared on Twitter.

On 06 July 2020, Mr. Hussain accused Punjabi for country’s fate, which is tantamount to racism. On 03 June 2020, he categorically demanded, in a live social media speech, Sindh as separate, independent and sovereign state at the 42nd foundation of All Pakistan Muttahida Qaumi Movement (APMSO). On 10 June 2020, Mr. Hussain said that Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s National Poet, did not present the ideology of Pakistan. On 29 May 2020, Mr. Hussain asked the U.S. Congress to table a bill for the independence of Balochistan and Sindh, the two provinces of Pakistan, threatening territorial sovereignty of Pakistan. On 18 November 2019, he requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help by giving asylum and financial help to him and his companions. The MQM leader said If Indian PM Modi allows me to come to India and provides me asylum with my colleagues, I am ready to come to India along with my colleagues. Going against the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) dispute, Mr. Hussain said that the revocation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution is an internal matter of India. It is pertinent to mention here that Indian occupation forces have crossed all red-lines in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), as far as human rights are concerned. The list of Indian atrocities is getting longer with each passing day, throwing all ethics to the wind. Moreover, after the massive protest because of Indian abrogation of Article 370, the internet services have also been banned since August 05, 2019; internet was totally blocked 55 times. Most worryingly, a new media policy is also introduced that would enable India “decide what is “fake,” “unethical” or “anti-national” news and take legal action against the journalist or media organisation concerned, including sharing information with security agencies.” Mr. Hussain said that the revocation of Article 370 by the India government was absolutely an internal matter of India and the government of India took this decision with the overwhelming support of the people of India, showing that he is on someone’s pay roll.

According to the Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007, (1) A person commits an offence if – (a) he does an act capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence; and – (b) he intends to encourage or assist its commission. (2) But he is not to be taken to have intended to encourage or assist the commission of an offence merely because such encouragement or assistance was a foreseeable consequence of his act. In this context, the UK government should take notice of Mr. Hussain’s anti-Pakistan activities, being conducted using their soil. The above discussion aptly exposes Mr. Hussain’s criminal baggage in Pakistan and UK e.g. Sectarian instigations, creating law & order disorder, heading criminal political wings, killings, extortions and manipulating diplomatic relations of sovereign states. At the time of Mr. Hussain’s arrest, the then Interior Minister of Pakistan had sought assistance from British authorities, and asked them to take action against Hussain for “inciting people of Pakistan to violence.

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