LHC resumes hearing on Altaf Hussain media ban petition

The Lahore High Court (LHC) addressed a 2015 petition on Wednesday that seeks to ban the media coverage of Altaf Hussain, the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The petition was originally filed by Advocate Aftab Virk and others, who claimed that Hussain's speeches contained "anti-army" rhetoric. In August 2015, the LHC had ordered a ban on Hussain’s speeches and images across all media outlets. This week, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum convened to discuss the case. During the hearing, the court summoned Mansoor Usman Awan, the Attorney General for Pakistan, and the Punjab advocate general to provide assistance. The court also called for Hussain’s lawyer to attend the next hearing. During the proceedings, petition supporter Abdullah Malik mentioned that the ban had helped restore peace in Karachi. Chief Justice Neelum noted the significance of the case in maintaining the country's peace, prompting the issuance of notices to all involved parties. This matter is part of a longer legal history, as Justices Haider and Nadeem were previously on a full bench set to hear related petitions in 2024. However, one judge recused himself, leading to the current bench's creation for the case. Notably, in 2023, the Sindh High Court denied two petitions that sought to lift the media ban on Hussain. Following the initial ban in 2015, Hussain had challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that it was unjust.