Waseem dares govt initiate May 12 case against Musharraf

Says there’s no use of keeping him in jail

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) leader and Karachi mayor-elect Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday dared the government to bring the former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf back to Pakistan and try him for treason in connection with the May 12 carnage.

Talking to the media at the City Council Hall after being elected, Waseem said there was no use of keeping him in jail

“I reject the fake allegations of my involvement in the May 12 carnage. The May 12 happened due to the then deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and when he was restored, he did not bother to touch the May 12 case.”

Waseem Akhtar was brought from the Central Jail Karachi to cast his vote at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)’s old building where he used his right to franchise and was again taken to jail.

“My victory is the victory of to jail. "My victory is the victory of people. People have elected Wasim Akhtar, Arshad Vohra and MQM despite difficult circumstances," he said.

"Let bygones be bygones," he said, urging all stakeholders to work together for the development and peace of Karachi. "I am happy that the mandate of Karachi has been accepted," he said. "Whatever happened in the past should be forgotten. Let bygones be bygones," he said.

“I am a mayor of Karachi not of the MQM as I have been elected as mayor of Karachi.” Deputy Mayor Arshad Abdullah Vohra was also with him. Waseem said he wanted to follow the guidelines of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He requested Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to guide them. The mayor-elect said he wanted to move jointly with all the political parties. “I request the Sindh chief minister to guide or lead us.” He also requested the Sindh chief minister to give powers to the elected local government members.

Referring to DG Sindh Rangers, he said: “General Bilal Saheb people have given us the mandate and we want to work jointly.” Referring to DG Rangers, Akhtar extended his support for the ongoing operation in the city, and said: "There are elements who want to derail peace in Karachi."

Rangers, he said, is giving great sacrifices for the peace and prosperity of the country. He said united we stand but if we are pitted against each other, peace in Karachi can never be restored.

Waseem said now enough is enough, fighting should be over now; Karachi has seen lot of bloodbath and now this must end. He said it is out of question to talk against Pakistan. The newly-elected mayor said he will talk to PTI’s Imran Ismail, JI and ANP, and will go their offices.

Waseem said: “Cases against me are all political and I want a reply from the chief minister in this regard for all the cases against me.” Quoting Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, he said there was no political prisoner in Sindh. “I am a political prisoner. Rauf Akhtar Farooq is a political prisoner and all cases against him are fake and fabricated.”

“We are the ones whose ancestors made Pakistan, and who would never say anything against Pakistan,” Waseem added. Waseem said in the past he spent three years in jail. During media talk, Arshad Vohra advised Waseem Akhtar not to discuss Monday’s incidents. He was also trying to caution Waseem to be careful in his talk.