One case to go: Freedom within Wasim Akhtar’s grasp

Karachi mayor granted pre-arrest bail in hate speech case

KARACHI: As November 16 draws closer, the city's mayor seems to be making efforts for his sure release from jail and the results are appearing in his favour. On Saturday, an anti-terrorism court granted him pre-arrest bail in a hate speech case he had thought could become a hurdle in his way out.

Wasim Akhtar, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader who was elected as Karachi's 28th mayor by contesting the polls from jail for the first time in August, faced 39 cases. Of these, he has obtained bail in 38 cases. Only one is left and the verdict on whether he will remain incarcerated or will be set free is due to be announced on Wednesday.

He is hopeful to 'serve' the city whose key he holds. Karachi is one of the largest cities in the world but sadly it has been treated poorly, he said during an informal talk with journalists while leaving the anti-terrorism court complex after the hearing of the cases against him. "Once released, I will formulate a policy for the betterment of the city with the help of the chief minister, [Murad Ali Shah], and new governor [Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui]," he vowed.

The MQM leader, through his counsel, Khawaja Navid, had moved his bail application before the anti-terrorism courts' administrative judge on Thursday. The case is one of the over 20 identical cases against him about listening to, facilitating and appreciating a 'hateful and incendiary' speech by his former party chief, Altaf Hussain, against Pakistan's military establishment. The case is registered at the Site Superhighway police station. The bail matter was referred to ATC-I for disposal.

His lawyer contended before the trial court judge that his client was falsely implicated in the case as he had played no role in the speech. He said that Akhtar was being victimised for his political affiliation and dozens of cases were brought up against him to create a complex situation for him to continue with his politics. He argued that other suspects in the case were on bail so his client should also be given the same, keeping in view that the court treats everyone equally.

Mentioning that his client was not shown as arrested in the charge-sheet, he theorised that it may be a game being played by the authorities to arrest him again when he gets bail in the last terror facilitation case that involves former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain and other politicians.

The judge, after listening to the arguments, granted pre-arrest bail to Akhtar, directing him to submit a surety of Rs25,000. Meanwhile, the court heard 23 identical cases as another MQM leader, Khawaja Izharul Hasan, attended the proceedings. The court issued non-bailable warrants of arrest for the top leadership of the party, including Farooq Sattar and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and ordered the police to arrest and present the leaders on the next hearing. The court has issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest for the aforementioned leaders a number of times but police have not arrested them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.