Pakatan Rakyat today demanded Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to explain whether the witchhunt against politicians and activists under the Sedition Act is related to a private meeting with Umno.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said the series of sedition charges, several of which are based on police reports by Umno members, followed shortly after the Aug 14 meeting.

"Is the attorney-general acting based on the instructions of Umno leaders?

"Who and which Umno divisions were involved in the controversial meeting?" he asked at a press conference at the PAS headquarters today.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said if these questions are not clarified, it will give the impression that the attorney-general was abusing his power.

Also present at the press conference were PKR vice president Tian Chua and DAP vice chairperson Teresa Kok, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Gerakan Mansuhkan Akta Hasutan (Ghah) activists Yap Swee Seng, Hishammuddin Rais and Adam Adli.

To date, some 21 people have been probed under the Sedition Act and at least 12 have been charged in court.

Ahead of an anticipated anti-sedition act battle, Yap said the movement is organising a fundraiser dinner on Oct 27 at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre at 8pm.

The dinner will have a total of 100 tables and tickets will be sold at RM100 each.

"It is to show support to those who are victims of the Sedition Act," he said.

Asked if the fundraiser is a bid to build a war chest ahead of a mass protest against the Sedition Act, Mohamad said the matter would only be announced later.

However, Mohamad, who brandished a dinner ticket which bore the faces of all those charged under the Sedition Act, pledged Pakatan's support for the campaign.

"We will mobilise all our machinery at the grassroots nationwide to fight this draconian act until it is abolished," he said.