Imprisoned administrator: Well-wishers demand release of Karachi mayor

Wasim Akhtar's family, friends and a group of citizens protest at Teen Talwar

KARACHI: Release our mayor and chief justice please intervene were some of the slogans raised at a protest against the incarceration of the city's elected mayor, Wasim Akhtar, at Teen Talwar on Sunday.

The city's 'first lady', Naila Wasim, arranged the protest for her imprisoned husband, which was attended by Akhtar's family and friends, as well as members of the civil society, including known faces from the entertainment industry.

Akhtar, a leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was nominated as mayor of Karachi in December 2015. On July 19 this year, Akhtar, along with other political figures, was taken into custody in a case against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain.

For the first time in Pakistan, an imprisoned mayor-nominee of Karachi contested the mayoral election at the old Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) building on August 24 this year after his production order was released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Then, on August 30, the mayor and his deputy, Arshad Vohra, took oath when Akhtar was again transported from the Karachi Central Jail to Bagh-e-Quaid-i-Azam.

Recently, Akhtar 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. In his application, 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 chief justice 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. At present, Akhtar is facing charges in nearly two dozen cases of sedition and other alleged offences in various police stations across the city.

Family concerns

The youngest son of Akhtar, 12-year-old Taimur, told The Express Tribune that he is very attached to his father and believes that whatever is happening to him is sheer injustice. "We have to pressurise the force that is stopping the release of my father," he said, adding that he has no idea how his father is going to get out of jail but he is sure that one day he will be a free man.

"Despite all his [Wasim's] political activities, he used to give time to me," said the yearning son.



Asking when justice will prevail and how 20 cases were registered against Wasim in a single day, Akhtar's elder son, Faraz, said they are hoping that the chief justice will take appropriate measures.

All the cases against his father, according to Faraz, are fake. He explained that when his father was nominated mayor, such cases sprung out of nowhere.

Meanwhile, Naila, asking the courts to eliminate all the 'fabricated' cases against her husband, said the city needs its mayor. "We don't want sympathy, we want justice," she said.

Well-wishers from showbiz 

Calling himself a friend of Akhtar's, renowned actor Javed Sheikh said Karachi needs its mayor. "We want him to take charge of his post and make Karachi beautiful," he said, adding that the city cannot be left like an orphan, the way it has been for ages.

Young actor and model, Shehroz Sabzwari, who is usually seen at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) rallies and protests, was present at the protest as well along with his father, Behroz Sabzwari, also a famous figure in the entertainment industry. Chanting slogans in favour of the mayor, Shehroz said he was at the protest for his legally elected mayor, who should not be behind bars. When asked if he has parted ways with the PTI, he said he had been 'off' from the party for a while now.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2016.