ATC indicts Wasim Akhtar in another May 12 carnage case

Court summons mayor, 21 other accused on October 27

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court indicted on Saturday Mayor Wasim Akhtar along with 21 other accused in another case relating to the May 12 carnage.

The ATC heard four more cases related to the incident in which more accused were also indicted. Akhtar and others appeared before the court. All accused, including the mayor, denied the charges.

Summoning the witnesses on the next hearing, the court adjourned the hearing till October 27.

Akhtar and others have also been indicted in another case relating to May 12 in which nine suspects have already been declared absconders by the court. Four cases had been registered at the Airport police station against the accused, of which an indictment was issued for case number 86/2007.

Seven cases related to the May 12 carnage are registered at different police stations of the city.



In September, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the May 12 carnage in the port city which left several dead in 2007.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice KK Agha had also directed the formation of a judicial tribunal to scrutinise the case.

Chaos erupted on May 12, 2007, upon former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry's arrival in Karachi. He was scheduled to attend an SHC bar ceremony but was stopped at the airport.

In the riots that followed, more than 50 people were killed and over 100 injured when rallies of various political parties and lawyers were attacked.

Former president Pervez Musharraf, the founder of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Akhtar, then adviser on home affairs, were named in a petition which alleged that MQM caused the bloodshed in Karachi at the behest of former president Musharraf.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, Akhtar said that those who responsible for the May 12 violence should be identified.



Responding to a question pertaining to former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif's arrest, Akhtar said that considering the present situation of the country, such decisions should not have been taken. He opined that the Parliament and speaker should have been taken into confidence.

The mayor said the masses were confused and wanted to see delivery by the federal and provincial governments.

He said the economy isn't in a good condition and hence, such measures were not good moves. However, he said in case one is found guilty of corruption, they should be punished.

Expressing his views on the garbage piles in the city, Akhtar said that the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has failed to do its job. Quoting statistics, he said 60% of garbage remains on the streets on a daily basis, but the Sindh government has not taken any measures to remedy the problem.

Nothing is being done despite the water commission's orders, he claimed, adding that the situations can be improved if the amount being allocated to the SSWMB is given to the district municipal corporations instead.