An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday issued a contempt of court notice to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East Karachi Sultan Ali Khowaja for failing to submit challan of cases registered against the use of hate speech by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain.

During a hearing of 24 cases regarding Hussain's speeches, deemed as "violent and anti-state", the ATC expressed anger at police's procrastination in submitting the chalan and first information reports filed in East Zone police stations and issued non-bailable arrest warrants of all investigation officers involved in the cases, including Superintendent of Police (SP), Investigation II, East Zone, Altaf Sarwar Malik.

The ATC also ordered that the salaries of the concerned officials be blocked and ordered all officers to appear before the court on February 10.

Since SP Malik has been replaced with Abid Hussain Qaimkhani, an officer of Sindh Police, the latter will appear in the ATC instead of Malik.

Court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for MQM-P leader Rehan Hashmi for failing to attend the hearing.

Speaking to the media outside the court, MQM-P chief Farooq Sattar claimed that allegations against him were false and baseless. He insisted that the ruling PPP should also be held responsible for Naqeebullah Mehsud's killing and demanded a transparent investigation into the matter. He went on to say that other parties should also make sacrifices for peace in Karachi like MQM-P, that had paid a "huge price" to restore peace in the city.

Party leaders Amir Khan, Khawaja Izharul Hasan, Rauf Siddiqui, Mehfooz Yar, and Qamar Mansoor — all of whom have been nominated in several of the hate speech cases — also appeared in court alongside Sattar.

MQM leaders are facing charges in connection with cases pertaining to the Aug 22 speech of Hussain, which triggered a violent protest, arson attacks and ransacking of media houses.