Rupert Bowers QC successfully defended Altaf Hussain who was acquitted of two counts of encouraging acts of terrorism

Rupert Bowers QC instructed by David Corker of Corker Binning successfully defended Altaf Hussain who was acquitted on Tuesday of two counts of encouraging acts of terrorism.

Mr Hussain is the leader of the Pakistani political party MQM but has been in exile in England since 1992. The MQM represents the rights of the Mohajir community in Pakistan who are often the subject of state oppression. Mr Hussain was accused of encouraging acts of terrorism by delivering a speech in 2016 to those assembled at a hunger strike in Karachi organised in protest against the media ban imposed upon the reporting of his speeches.

The speech was delivered to Karachi by telephone from Edgeware and violence ensued in Karachi in its wake. However, Mr Hussain’s acquittal indicates that the jury were not sure that Mr Hussain intended those consequences from what he said to those assembled at the peaceful protest.