ATC allows Waseem Akhtar ‘B-class’ facilities in jail

Karachi 

Seeking ‘A-class’ facilities at the central prison, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday instead granted ‘B-class’ facilities to Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) mayor-elect Waseem Akhter.

His counsel was ordered to submit due documents proving that he was entitled to avail the facilities within 15 days; the documents included educational certificates and other relevant documents.

In case of failure to submit the documents, the court observed that all facilities would be withdrawn from the accused.  Akhter’s attorney requested the court that his client was a political personality and had been a member of the national assembly in past, hence, deserved to be granted B-class in jail. He said it was obvious that legislators were educated people.

Responding to the counsel’s arguments, the Rangers’ prosecutor said previously matriculation was qualification enough for people to become legislators; however, changes were made in the law during Pervez Musharraf’s tenure. He said it would not be fair to grant ‘B-class’ facility without examining the accused’ documents.

The court, however, granted the facility and directed his counsel to ensure submission of documents within 15 days, warning of revoking the decision if he failed to do so.

A former home minister and senior member of the MQM, Akhter was arrested by police for his alleged involvement in more than seven cases regarding the May 12, 2007 incident as well as provision of medical treatment and shelter to criminals at Dr Asim Hussain’s private hospitals, while also facilitating and listening to MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s speech degrading the armed forces and women.  According to the police’s statement issued the day he was sent to the central prison on judicial remand, the mayhem on May 12, 2007 was carried out on Akhter’s orders, and that he had ‘confessed’ to it all.

However, the talks of him having confessed were rubbished by Akhter himself in a statement provided to the media through his lawyers. The MQM also denied all allegations.

He was handed over to officials of the Malir police station on a four-day physical remand, after his arrest, on expiry of which he was presented before the administrative judge of the ATC.