SHC seeks reply from MQM's Waseem Akhtar in Rs500m Rangers libel case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday instructed Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Wasim Akhtar to submit a reply by December 21 in a Rs500 million libel case filed by the Sindh Rangers.

Sindh Rangers had also submitted an application in the court, asking the presiding judge to issue a restraining order against the MQM leader, which would prevent him from issuing public statements against the Rangers in the future.

The restraining order has not been issued by the court yet.

Rangers have stated in the application that the "Sindh Rangers are a respected state institution, and their image was damaged by the comments made."

Read: MQM’s Wasim Akhtar booked over sedition, terror charges

The case was filed by the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch of the paramilitary force.

Rangers had sent a legal notice to Waseem Akhtar on October 26 asking him to explain the allegations that he had levelled against the paramilitary force.

In September, Waseem Akhtar had alleged on a private TV channel that the Rangers were involved in the theft of sacrificial hides during Eidul Azha.

Waseem Akhtar was also booked under sedition and terror charges in October.

The MQM leader was booked under Sections 123-A (Condemnation of the creation of the State and advocate of abolition of its sovereignty), 124-A (Sedition) of Pakistan Penal Code and Telegraph Act and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.