KARACHI: An antiterrorism court granted bail to the Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar in four cases related to May 12 riots.
The ATC-11 approved the bail for Waseem against the surety bond of Rs500,000 in each case. It had earlier reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.
The Karachi Mayor has been behind the bar since July, 2016 and he had contested mayoral elections from prison.
Waseem along with other accused had been booked in a number of cases related to rioting, arson attacks, and attempted murder lodged at Airport police station during the May 12, 2007 mayhem.
The applicant’s counsel argued that Waseem was not named in the FIRs while the police have not specified his role during investigation about his alleged involvement.
Contradicting the counsel’ contention, the prosecutor opposed the applications and submitted that the prosecution has sufficient evidence against him. The statement of a prosecution witness recorded by a judicial magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC and two other witnesses had deposed against Waseem.
According to the details of the case, former provincial home minister, Waseem Akhtar, had allegedly confessed to being involved in the violence that took place on May 12, 2007 in Karachi. Police say that several suspects were also rounded up following the important information provided by Waseem Akhtar. However, Waseem had repeatedly denied having given any such confessional statement.
On May 12, 2007, the rallies of various political parties in Karachi had come under attack while they were en route to receive the then deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
