MANSEHRA, May 22: Lawyers on Wednesday boycotted the court proceedings to protest what they called the recent anti-Pakistan speech of Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and announced to hold a demonstration outside the British High Commission in Islamabad.

“We condemn anti-Pakistan remarks of Mr Altaf during his speech and will take the issue to the British High Commission in Islamabad for legal action against him (Mr Altaf),” said Mansehra District Bar Association president Munir Hussain Lughmani during a meeting here.

Former Mansehra District Bar Association office-bearers Shahjehan Khan Swati, Muzaffar Khan, Mushtaq Khan and Hafiz Naseem also spoke on the occasion.

The lawyers, who boycotted the court proceedings, demanded the government ban on parties working against the country’s interests and existence.

Mr Lughmani said MQM was involved in the anti-state activities and should be banned.

“Altaf Hussain should be tried in the court of law under Article 6 of the Constitution and that the UK should be asked for his expulsion over anti-Pakistan speech,” he said.

The Mansehra district bar association said media should come forward against traitors and lawyers would provide full support to it.

He said MQM had held the entire country hostage through bloodshed in Karachi and therefore, the government should take notice of the matter and ensure exemplary punishment of killers in Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahjehan Swati said the Foreign Office should formally lodge a protest with the British foreign ministry against local resident Altaf Hussain’s anti-Pakistan remarks.

Later, participants adopted a resolution to condemn the government for not taking legal action against Altaf Hussain and demand that Pakistan Bar Council announce the countrywide strike against the MQM chief’s remarks.

They said nobody could be allowed to speak against the country and its people and that the government should initiate a mutiny case against Altaf Hussain.

The participants later agreed to form a committee to be headed by senior lawyer Muzaffar Khan to draft a resolution against the MQM chief’s speech.

The said resolution will be handed over to the British high commissioner in Islamabad during the imminent demonstration.