[DAWN] THE order by the Lahore High Court directing print and electronic media regulators to ensure there is no media coverage whatsoever of the increasingly roundedAltaf Hussain..The head of MQM in Pakistain, who has lived in London and hasn't laid eyes on Pakistain since Caesar made corporal. Judging from the size of him,he may be a Hutt...
's speeches and statements is extraordinarily troubling.
The MQM chief has clearly made some incendiary and disturbing speeches in recent times and wiser political counsel does need to prevail on him. But is it in the interests of the superior judiciary, acting on petitions seemingly moved by individuals with a thinly veiled agenda against the MQM and in favour of the military establishment, to be venturing so deep into the domain of what is quite clearly political speech?
Where Mr Hussain oversteps the mark in terms of language not fit for general TV viewership, a simple delay by a few seconds of live broadcasts can address the problem.
If Mr Hussain says something that is liable to be prosecuted under the law, the individuals or institution assailed by the MQM supremo can approach the courts directly for redress. Surely though, a state-sanctioned ban on coverage of any kind of leader of a mainstream political party is a step too far.
The public has a right to know what a political leader is saying and the leader has a right to reach out to the public.