MQM's nominated mayor Waseem Akhtar stated in court on Thursday that he would not run away if allowed to go abroad since his family was in Karachi. A local court was conducting a hearing regarding the petition to stop MQM's nominated mayor Waseem Akhtar from travelling abroad. Waseem Akhtar's lawyer stated that his client was the nominated mayor and would run Karachi from the jail even.
The legal representative of the Rangers stated that Waseem Akhtar had earlier been allowed to travel abroad for his medical check-up. However, this time he has not specified the reason for going abroad, said the Rangers' lawyer. The Rangers lawyer also stated that a decision was about to be taken on Waseem Akhtar's temporary bail.
"If Waseem Akhtar travels outside the country, he will not return," said the Rangers' lawyer. To which Waseem Akhtar retorted by stating that he was the nominated Mayor and elected UC Chairman. "I respect the courts. My family is here, I will not run away," said Akhtar. Akhtar's lawyer told the court that Rangers' powers to detain a particular person for 90 days also did not exist anymore.
"If Waseem Akhtar wanted to run, why would he come and seek permission from the court?" said Akhtar's lawyer. "Waseem Akhtar has arrived here, he does not want to run away," he added. Upon Waseem Akhtar's guarantee of coming back to Karachi, the court discharged the petition.