Involvement in May 12 carnage: MQM denies Wasim Akhtar’s alleged confession

Rabita committee member shows handwritten letter by mayor-nominee denying involvement

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) denied on Wednesday media reports that the party's mayor-nominee Wasim Akhtar confessed his involvement in the May 12 carnage.

The party's Rabita Committee called a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat at Nine Zero to dismiss police claims that Akhtar was involved in the carnage that took place on May 12, 2007, upon the arrival of the then deposed chief justice Chaudhry Iftikhar.



These rumours are baseless and manufactured by certain police officers and the establishment, claimed MQM Rabita Committee member Kunwar Naveed Jamil. These police officers lacked professionalism and are not serious about resolving the situation in Karachi, he said, adding that such statements by the police are "politically motivated".

Jamil also stated that certain institutions were forcing the media to run such news and urged the media to practice responsible journalism. He requested the media refrain from putting the party on a media trial.

The MQM has requested an inquiry into the May 12 incident, Jamil said, pointing out that a report prepared by Sindh High Court judges had already absolved the MQM of any involvement, thus, proving its innocence.



Jamil was of the view that Karachi was being treated as a colony and ignored by everyone. Many groups had vested interests in the city and that ruined it, he claimed. Stating that the MQM never had any issue with the then chief justice, he claimed it was the establishment that was fighting the chief justice.

A Rabita Committee member, Saathi Ishaaq, showed a handwritten letter signed by Akhtar himself. In the letter, Akhtar rejected the 'baseless' reports and urged people to also reject the propaganda being launched against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.