Altaf appears at Old Bailey for incitement hearing.

Byline: Atika Rehman

LONDON -- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain appeared on Friday in the Central Criminal Court in London, where a judge extended his conditional bail and set a trial date for June 1 next year.

The court, which is famously called the 'Old Bailey' after the street on which it is located, was presided over by Justice Sweeney.

The MQM leader and his supporters appeared outside the court premises early morning to proceed to courtroom 3, where the hearing commenced at 10.30am. The judge set the trial date and also said that a preparatory hearing would be held on March 20, 2020.

On October 11 this year, Mr Hussain was formally charged by the Crown Prosecution Service under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act 2006 for encouraging terrorism during a speech he made in August 2016.

The court last month had granted him bail based on conditions, which include restrictions on broadcasting speeches, a curfew which limits his movements outside his residence, a warning against application for a travel permit and the custody of his passport to police. Under British law, violation of bail conditions can result in an arrest.

Crown court sets June 1, 2020 for trial, extends bail

This is the first time the MQM supremo has been charged with an offence in the United Kingdom, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since 1991. The move comes as a blow to the party, which has maintained that Mr Hussain is innocent and that the allegations against him are fabricated.

After the hearing at the Old Bailey, Mr Hussain and a crowd of MQM-London supporters from the party's international secretariat exited the court premises. Mr Hussain flashed a peace sign as his supporters chanted slogans in his favour.

Terrorism legislation

The act under which Mr Hussain has been charged defines 'terrorism' as the use or threat of action where it is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public. It also outlines the action or threat as one made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

The word 'action'...