Jailed Mayor of Karachi - Waseem Akhtar was released on Wednesday from the central prison after the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) granted him a bail, in a case pertaining to providing terrorists with a medical help, against a surety bond of Rs 500,000.
The Mayor received bails in all 39 cases. He was jailed on July 19 this year for a number of criminal cases including his alleged involvement in May 12, 2007 violence in the city, and facilitating hate speeches. Beside Waseem, the ATC judge also granted bail to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Abdul Qadir Patel in the same case - facilitating and providing medical assistance to alleged terrorists and gangsters at a private hospital here.
Scores of MQM-Pakistan workers and supporters along with their party leaders including Farooq Sattar, Khwaja Izharul Hassan thronged to the Central Jail to welcome Waseem Akhtar soon after the news relating to his release hit the local TV Channels. The jailed Mayor was showered with flowers by his party members as he came out of the prison.
Immediately after his release, Waseem paid a visit to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum where he offered Fatiha and led a floral wreath. Hundreds of workers mainly jubilant youth gathered on the new M.A Jinnah road who cheered his release with dancing and waving national and party flags. "Karachi Welcomes its Mayor" reads a banner placed on a vehicle came to receive the Mayor.
Talking to reporters, Waseem said that "he respects the mandate given by people of Karachi vowing to do his best for the upliftment of city's social life". He urged the Sindh Government to strengthen the local bodies system with assigning more powers so that the city could be developed in a better way.
Later, the Mayor visited Yadgar-i-Shuhada located in MQM stronghold Azizabad area. The MQM-P workers came across with MQM - London supporters and chanted slogans against each other. Waseem Akhtar took the Mayorship oath on August 30 to lead the city's municipal corporation. The MQM leader won elections in December, 5 last year, but he was unable to hold office due to legal issues. However, the much awaited city council election were finally held on August 24 after a lapse of 9 months and Akhtar emerged as the first Mayor-elect from behind the bars in Pakistan's political history. In its first meeting on September 28, the city council had also adopted a unanimous resolution for the release of the Mayor.