KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday granted bail to Karachi mayor and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Waseem Akhtar in a case pertaining to making things easier for founder MQM Altaf Hussain in a bid to make provocative speeches.
With the latest, Akhtar now requires bail in one more case to get released from the Karachi Prison and resume his duties as mayor of the port city.
His bail was set at Rs 25,000 while on the other hand, for not appearing in the court, the judge ordered to release arrest warrants of 22 MQM leaders including party’s founder Altaf Hussain and MQM Pakistan’s Dr Abdul Sattar.
It is important to mention here that the MQM leader had 39 cases against him on various counts out of which he has given bail in 38 cases.
Must Read: ATC indicts Dr Asim, Akhtar, three others in ‘terror facilitation case’
Last Saturday, an ATC granted Akhtar bail in another hate speech case that triggered attacks on media houses in Karachi last August including ARY News Karachi bureau.
Akhtar also got bail recently in four cases related to May 12, 2007, bloodshed, however, the mayor still has to face the infamous ‘terror facilitation case’.
An ATC on November 5 had indicted former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, Waseem Akhtar, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Anis Qaimkhani, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Abdul Qadir Patel and Pasban leader Usman Moazzam in the case related to the provision of medical assistance and shelter to terrorists and criminals at his private hospitals.
MQM leadership and workers were expecting a judgement about Akhtar’s possible bail application in the case on November 16.
Dr Asim, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, was arrested for providing medical assistance and shelter to terrorists and criminals belonging to banned outfits, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and several Lyari-based groups at his private hospitals in Karachi.
While Akhtar and others were facing charges of allegedly asking the former petroleum minister to provide treatment and shelter to them.
