KARACHI: An Anti-terrorism court granted bail to city mayor Waseem Akhtar in a case overfacilitating hate speech against a surety bond of Rs 25000. Meanwhile arrest warrants have been issued for Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leaders Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi and others.
There were 39 cases filed against the mayor in different cases including May 12 riots and facilitating hate speech. He has been granted bail in 38 cases and he needs bail in one more case, related to facilitating medical treatment of terrorists, to get out of jail.
Waseem Akhtar was arrested on July 19 on suspicion of sheltering and providing medical treatment to alleged militants and criminals. He also faces charges of inciting riots.
He was elected the mayor of Karachi in August and has been running his office from jail.
Speaking to Geo News, Waseem Akhtar said, "I am thankful to Allah. The courts gave me justice. I always had faith in the courts."
He said that once he gets out of jail he will serve the people of Karachi. "If Karachi prospers it will also be beneficial for Cheif Minister Murad Ali Shah."
We don't have any dry clean factories: Khawaja Izhar
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan speaking to journalists outside the ATC said that his party did not have any dry clean factories. "Our leaders are only dry cleaned through the courts," he said.