HYDERABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Hyderabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in a sedition case, after police submitted a final challan on Wednesday.

Altaf was booked under sections 124-A (sedition), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, section 25 of the Telegraph Act, and sections 6/7 of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997.

Also read: Police declares Altaf Hussain absconder

The case was lodged on the complaint of one Mohammad Usman Jokhio, who said in the FIR on July 11, 2015, that he heard a televised speech of Altaf Hussain on different television channels, adding that the speech was provocative and fanned hatred against the government, the army and other state institutions.

The complainant also handed over the recorded speech on a compact disk (CD) to police.

It was also alleged that Altaf Hussain had incited people for rioting and terrorism in the country.

Police today submitted the challan of the case under section 512 Cr.PC (Code of Criminal Procedure) before the Hyderabad ATC, after which the non-bailable warrants were issued.

It is now the court’s discretion to proceed against the accused in absentia.

Also read: Rangers file case against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain

In July, FIRs were registered in different parts of the country against Altaf Hussain for remarks made by him against the chief of Rangers in Sindh and the paramilitary force in recent speeches.

In the FIRs, Hussain was accused of involvement in cases of criminal conspiracy, waging or attempting or abetting the waging of war against Pakistan and committing acts of terrorism.

In April, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Major-General Asim Bajwa had said that earlier statements made by the MQM chief regarding the Pakistan Army would be legally pursued.