Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar likely to be released on Nov 16

ATC reserves order on bail plea in terrorism facilitation case; mayor already granted bail in 37 of the 39 cases

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday reserved its order on Waseem Akhtar’s bail plea in the terrorists facilitation case, paving way for the Karachi mayor’s release from jail on November 16.

Akhtar had been alleged of involvement in the treatment of terrorists at the former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain's Ziauddin Hospital.

Earlier on Saturday, the court approved bail in two cases pertaining to organising and listening to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founding chief Altaf Hussain's 'hate speech'. The mayor has been granted bail in 37 of the 39 cases in which he was arrested.



Meanwhile, Dr Asim, MQM lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, Waseem Akhtar, Qadir Patel, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) president Anis Kaimkhani and Usman Moazzam of Pasban-e-Pakistan were indicted in a terror facilitation case, following which the judge summoned witnesses to appear in court against the suspects.

Kaimkhani and Siddiqui were released from jail on Wednesday, after the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted them bail. Siddiqui and Kaimkhani were sent to jail on July 19 by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for their alleged role in Dr Asim's terror facilitation case. Both the leaders were received by their comrades upon their release from jail and were later taken to their respective party headquarters.

MQM MPA Siddiqui and PSP president Kaimkhani were sent to jail on July 19 by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for their alleged role in former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s terror facilitation case. Both the leaders were received by their comrades upon their release from jail and were later taken to their respective party headquarters.



The imprisoned mayor took oath earlier this year despite staunch opposition from rival parties. Akhtar, a former MPA, who is being held at Karachi’s central prison was brought to Polo Ground amid high security to take his oath. The tenure of the city’s last elected mayor, Syed Mustafa Kamal, ended almost six-and-half-years ago in February, 2010.