Newly-elected Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Saturday requested federation and Sindh government to grant him bail so that he can launch development projects in the metropolis.
Talking to media outside anti-terrorism court (ATC), Waseem Akhtar alleged that 20 fake cases were registered against him in one day. He said anti-Pakistan statements are unaccepted as they fall within the ambit of treason and fraud.
The mayor expressed satisfaction over the leadership of Farooq Sattar and also lauded work of Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah.
He also demanded the authorities take notice of forged cases against him and release him on bail to serve the city indiscriminately.
“If you think I have done something wrong, I should be granted opportunity for bail. I have appealed to both Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice Sindh High Court.” Waseem Akhtar said it was possible that he made mistakes in the past but it was now time to move forward.
He added that he would also say this to DG Rangers who is his elder.
He also spoke about the arrest and release of MQM Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan. According to Akhtar, no one had the right to make fake cases, adding that 20 such cases had also been lodged against him in one day after he was elected.
Earlier, Sindh Home Department issued a notification for constitution of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to interrogate MQM’s jailed Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar. Waseem Akhtar was sent to Central Jail in the capacity of an accused in terror case against former petroleum minister, Dr Asim Hussain and May 12 tragedy case. Akhtar’s plea for extension in interim bail was also rejected by an anti-terrorism court in the aforementioned cases.
He was nominated in the case that was registered under terror charges in November last year at North Nazimabad Police Station. Pak Sarzameen Party’s Anees Qaimkhani, Pakistan People’s Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel and MQM’s Rauf Siddique were among the four detainees. He had also demanded the authorities to provide him with an office in the prison for the purpose.
Read more: MQM’s jailed Waseem Akhtar takes oath as Karachi mayor
We know that Murad Ali Shah represents Peoples Party which is presently confined to rural Sindh and has few seats in Karachi. Still, he is the Chief Minister for the whole of Sindh, including Karachi. As such, his neglect of the real problems of Karachi and concentration solely on revengeful measures, like singling out MQM offices for locking up, sealing and pulling down hardly portray him as a man who has his priorities right and who is capable enough for the job.
Karachi has a population large enough to get a province status but as next best, the city should at least have an empowered local government. Unfortunately, to increase the money earning potential, the Sindh Government has, through the use of its majority in the Sindh Assembly, stripped local governments of essential powers and financial resources which have been placed in the hands of a minister. And the City Mayor is in jail, on fake charges as alleged by him, with 20 of them filed in one day, and with all of them being bailable.
With court permission, Waseem Akhtar recently went abroad but as promised, returned to Pakistan. As such, if granted bail, there is absolutely no risk of him fleeing to Dubai or elsewhere.
With enough revenge already wreaked against MQM, it is time the authorities relented and at least gave the orphan city, Karachi, a functioning Mayor, restoring in due course the powers of the local government at least to the level that a military dictator had given it.
Karachi
I agree 100% with the above person.
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