Mayor likely to walk free today

Expected to be granted bail in the last of 39 cases against him; MQM-P
says a rally would be staged to greet Waseem Akhtar on his release

Imprisoned Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar is likely to be released on Wednesday (today) after a court is expected to grant him bail in the last of the 39 cases against him.

The last case pertains to the mayor’s alleged involvement in the treatment of terrorists at the former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s hospital.

Akhtar was arrested on July 19 at a court where he attending a hearing.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan spokesperson Aminul Haq told The News on Tuesday that Akhtar would be accorded a rousing welcome on his release and a rally would be staged headed by party chief Dr Farooq Sattar .

Haq said Akhtar would first be taken to the Mazar-e-Quaid where he will lay a floral wreath and then to the MQM-P’s temporary office in PIB Colony.

He added that the rally would be attended by MQM-P legislators and local government representatives.

During his court hearings, Akhtar had said that Karachi was being treated unfairly.

When the Sindh High court chief justice had visited the central prison, Akhtar had told him that he wanted a quicker trial process so that he could be released and serve the citizens.

Akhtar’s wife had also held a press conference demanding her husband’s release.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation spokesperson told The News that deputy mayor Dr Arshad Abdullah Vohra will receive Akhtar.

The KMC is currently facing a severe financial crisis and is unable to pay the salaries of its staff. The corporation has almost 29,000 employees.

All major departments of the KMC are now working under the provincial government – the fire brigade being the only exception.

The departments of education, health and taxes have already been devolved and are now with district municipal corporations.

The spokesperson said mayor was likely to work at the old KMC building as the Civic Centre had been taken over by the Karachi Development Authority. The major offices of the KMC have been shifted to old KMC building on MA Jinnah Road. The spokesperson for the KDA said the mayor should work at the old KMC building as the Civic Centre no longer fell in the corporation’s domain. “The KDA has been restored after 15 years,” he added.