RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has submitted his affidavit to the Lahore High Court, saying, “I regret if anyone’s sentiments are hurt because of my speech.”

The court adjourned the hearing till October 9, telling his counsel to advance his argument on the affidavit.

During the course of proceeding, the court told the state counsel about the status of the party chief’s citizenship. Altaf’s Counsel, Asma Jahangir, objected, saying the court could never question his client’s nationality. Justice Sardar Tariq Masood then snubbed her, saying she should never try to intervene in the court functioning, adding the court knew its work well.

In the affidavit, party chief Hussain, son of Nazir Hussain, said, “I hereby solemnly affirm on oath on 29th day of September 2015 that I believe that the order of the LHC has seriously curbed free expression and denied my followers the right to hear me as their leader … That on September 18 I am informed that the court in its wisdom, sought an affidavit from me regarding a portion of my speech made to my followers on April 20, 2015, in which I criticized use of force against my party people and was enraged at being constantly dubbed as traitor and therefore the rhetoric has been misconstrued.” He then said, “I solemnly affirm that the words were misconstrued. In three subsequent interviews to different TV channels I did explain and my misconstrued words and if the learned law offices had presented the subsequent television interviews, the honorable court may have withheld its order.”

In the last paragraph, he said, “I solemnly declare that I regret if anyone’s sentiments are hurt and remind those who constantly paint MQM members as enemies of the state, that MQM members have equal sensitivity and are hurt on a daily basis when being accused of being unpatriotic.”