LHC forms larger bench to hear treason petition against Altaf Hussain

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday formed a larger bench to hear a petition requesting to try Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Husain and other leaders under treason charges.

The larger bench comprises of the LHC's Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu and Justice Erum Sajjad Gull.

The petition had been filed by Advocate Aftab Virk, stating that the MQM chief and eight other party leaders, including Babar Ghauri, Farooq Sattar and Waseem Akhtar spoke against the integrity of the country and the army in their speeches and on different talk shows on TV channels. The petition adds that the interior and information ministries have failed to take appropriate action against the MQM leaders, whose speeches were tarnishing Pakistan's image in the world.

Advocate Virk states in the petition that the speeches were tantamount to treason and that they should be tried under the treason act.