Imprisoned Karachi mayor requests early hearing of bail plea

Over 39 cases have been registered against Wasim Akhtar

KARACHI: The incarcerated mayor of Karachi, Wasim Akhtar, has requested the Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah to pass orders for early hearing of his bail applications pending decision at the SHC.

Judicial officials told The Express Tribune that recently the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the provincial chief justice and other judges had visited the Central Jail, Karachi, where they had listened to the grievances of the inmates.

Akhtar, who was sent to prison along with other Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders after an anti-terrorism court rejected their bail applications in a case against Dr Asim Hussain, had also complained about the delays in decision on his bail plea at the SHC in the same case. He was asked to file a proper application so that an order could be passed on it.



In his application, the MQM leader said he was under trial in prison since July 19 this year, adding that 20 FIRs were registered against him in just one day on July 15 this year, and to date the number has jumped to 39.

He mentioned that in almost all the FIRs the same sections of law are applied and not being a wealthy person, the applicant cannot put up surety bonds of 39 fake cases, which are politically motivated.

It was stated that the applicant, who was elected as mayor of Karachi and had taken oath in presence of all the dignitaries of the city in a televised event, is in prison for no fault or crime for the last 48 days.



During his bail, he left the country and returned thrice with the permission of the court.

Akhtar said he is languishing in prison and is unable to serve Karachi, which is in dire straits for lack of an elected local body structure. Therefore, he pleaded to the SHC CJ to pass an executive order for expeditious disposal of his bail applications and restrain the authorities from registering further cases without intimation of the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2016.