Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar - in jail since July this year - was finally released on Wednesday after he was granted bail in the last of the 39 cases against him.
An anti-terrorism court approved Akhtar’s bail against a surety bond of Rs500,000.
A huge crowd of Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan leaders, activists and supporters including party chief Dr Farooq Sattar reached the central jail to welcome him on his release and showered him with rose petals.
The mayor responded to the crowd with a victory sign.
Then Akhtar with a large MQM-P rally reached the Mazar-e-Quaid where he laid a floral wreath.
Talking to reporters, Akhtar said he would make every effort possible for the betterment of Karachi. “We respect the mandate given by citizens of Karachi,” he added. He demanded that the provincial government should empower the local bodies to run affairs of the city.
Mayor to write a book
The mayor told the reporters that he would write a book on his ordeal in jail.
“The time spent in Karachi and Adiala jails was the worst in my life,” he added.
He said he would withdraw his salary from the bank to pay back loans borrowed from friends to cover his bail money.
Akhtar’s wife expressing her joy said her husband’s release was the victory of truth. She added that those who had filed fake cases against her husband should be investigated.
Akhtar was arrested on July 19 after an anti-terrorism court had rejected his bail plea.
The mayor, along with former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anis Qaimkhani, Pakistan People’s Party leader Abdul Qadir Patel, Pasban leader Usman Moazzam, and MQM-P’s Rauf Siddiqui face charges of facilitating treatment of terrorists at Ziauddin hospitals.
The mayor also faces charges of facilitating allegedly controversial and hate speeches by MQM founder Altaf Hussain and involvement in the May 12, 2007 violence.
The 39th in which Akhtar was granted bail on Wednesday pertained to the treatment of terrorist at the hospitals owned by Dr Asim. Besides Akhtar, PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel too was granted bail and released.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah congratulated the mayor on his release.
MQM factions clash
The activists of MQM-P and MQM-Altaf clashed when the latter prevented the mayor from reaching Shuhada graveyard in Azizabad. The residents had already notified police and Rangers fearing that there could be trouble. The police and Rangers asked the mayor to not visit the graveyard and dispersed the crowd there arresting seven MQM-A activists.
Deputy mayor
Karachi deputy mayor Arshad Vohra said Akhtar’s office was ready for him to take start running his office. “We are waiting for him. Together we will restore the city’s lights,” he added.
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan said he was sure that only courts could give justice to his party. “One Waseem Akhtar has been released. Several others are still in jail,” he added referring to the party activists still in prison.
He said Karachi’s development was key to the entire country’s’ progress and the city’s local bodies must be given their due powers for this purpose. “If the local government representatives are not given their rights, we will stage protests and also approach the court,” he added.
Hassan said the doors of MQM-P were always open for former governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad and former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
‘Mayor not the sole boss’
Provincial local government secretary Ramzan Awan said that the Karachi mayor was not the sole boss of the city’s affairs and development funds would be given to project director and the latter would decide how they would be transferred.
However, he added that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation would continue receiving funds as per law.
The secretary said the provincial government would not intervene in the mayor’s functions.
“The mayor will have full powers to serve the citizens as an elected member but he has to follow the rules defined by the government,” he added.
