MQM’s jailed Waseem Akhtar takes oath as Karachi mayor

Raises slogans of Long live Muttahida, Long live Bhutto, Long live Imran Khan

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan’s Waseem Akhtar and Arshad Vohra took oath as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Karachi on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the Gulshan-e-Jinnah (Polo Ground). Municipal Commissioner Sami Siddiqui administered the oath to the mayor and deputy mayor of Karachi.

Wasim Akhtar was brought in for the swearing-in ceremony from the Karachi Central Jail where he is being held under remand.After taking oath, Waseem Akhtar began his address by raising the slogan “Long live Muttahida, Long live Bhutto, Long live Imran Khan.”

Wasim Akhtar said he was currently in jail and facing some “false charges” adding that all the charges against him were bailable.He said after taking oath he had decided to move his bail plea in court and was hopeful of getting justice from the court.

Wasim Akhtar said that they wanted to develop Karachi and Sindh adding that if Sindh progresses, then the whole country will progress. He said if Pakistan was there, then they were also there, adding that they would not allow anyone to harm the country. He said Pakistan would be protected at all costs adding that no one would be allowed to cast an evil eye on Pakistan.

“We have to set aside our differences,” Akhtar said  and Asif Zardari. Wasim Akhtar also thanked the federal and provincial governments. He said he will spend four years as mayor to resolve the problems of Karachi. He said if Karachi will progress, then the whole of Sindh will progress.

"After eight years, Karachi has a mayor and deputy mayor, chairmen and vice chairmen. We will have to work together for the betterment of this city and the province." Wasim Akhtar said he will meet the business community and people from all walks of life to resolve the issues being faced by Karachi. "We know Karachi is plagued by a number of issues. These problems are our problems," Akhtar said requesting all those elected to set aside their differences for the progress of the metropolis.

He called on diplomats and businessmen to help him in this endeavour. "I need your help to fix these issues (faced by Karachi)," he said. "But unfortunately I am in jail... These are all false charges. After taking oath, I have decided to move a bail application in court. And I am sure I will get justice... As soon as I am released from jail, I will meet you in your offices and take guidance [from you] and meet people from different walks of life and of course with all the political parties that have contested the election for this city," he said.

"There were many hurdles. We are taking oath today after nine months [whereas] London's new mayor assumed office in just four hours." On the lighter side, he quipped: "It is almost as if this was a cesarean child. It was not a normal delivery. Let's hope for the best."

After stepping away from the mike, Akhtar once again took to the podium to express support for the MQM and Dr Farooq Sattar. "We will work together for Karachi and Sindh," he said. Wasim Akhtar said he was with the MQM Pakistan and will strengthen Farooq Sattar and there should be no doubt about this.

Wasim Akhtar said we will work for Karachi, Sindh and Pakistan. He claimed he will even not hesitate to sacrifice life for Pakistan. His statement comes just days after Sattar announced the MQM was dissociating itself from the party chief Altaf Hussain and the London office following Altaf Hussain's anti Pakistan speech, which sparked violent protests in Karachi.

Akhtar is among four mayors and 200 chairmen of as many municipal bodies across Sindh who took oath of their offices on Tuesday. That Akhtar would be able to take his oath remained uncertain even in the hours before the ceremony as his attendance depended on a production order allowing him to do so.

District and Sessions Judge (South) Imdad Hussain Khoso withdrew an order he had issued on Monday in this regard as he did not have clearance from the Sindh High Court to administer oath at the ceremony. Almost immediately a returning officer for the KMC requested the jail authorities to produce the jailed mayor elect and arrange security, so that he could attend the oath taking ceremony.

Akhtar is the first person in the country to have won the mayoral election from prison with a comfortable margin against his rival candidate pitted by a six party alliance formed to contest against the MQM.

The MQM leader has been in prison since July 19 after an Anti Terrorism Court dismissed his pre-arrest interim application in a case for treatment of terrorists will run the metropolis via video link from his prison cell.

The tenure of the city's last elected mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal ended almost six and a half years ago in February 2010. Family members of Waseem and MQM leader Farooq Sattar were present at Karachi's Polo Ground to attend the oath-taking ceremony of mayor and deputy mayor Karachi. MQM's Arshad Vohra took oath as Deputy Mayor Karachi. --Agencies

 Our correspondent adds: Oath-taking ceremonies of chairmen, vice chairmen, mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen of town and municipal committees in Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Umarkot, Jacobabad and other districts were held in a peaceful manner on Wednesday.

Returning officers administered the oath. In Khairpur, Chairman Shahryar Khan Wasan and Vice Chairman Kashif Bhabhan took oath of their offices. In Sukkur, Chairman Muhammed Aslam Shaikh and Arsalan Islamuddin Shaikh took oath as Mayor Sukkur, Agha Maseehuddin Durani Chairman, in Ghotki Sardar Haji Khan Mahar as chairman and Safdar Chachar Vice Chairman, Syed Amjad Shah as Chairman MC Khairpur and Dr Yar Muhammed Phulpoto as Vice Chairman took their oaths.

Most of the chairmen after taking oath of their offices in a motorcade visited Gharhi Khuda Bakhash Bhutto,where they laid floral wreath on the graves of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and ZA Bhutto.