KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday granted a bail to the city’s mayor – Waseem Akhtar – in two cases pertaining to listening, arranging and appreciating a ‘hate speech’ of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain.
Akhtar – facing a number of cases pertaining to May 12, 2007 riots, MQM chief’s provocative speeches and facilitating suspected terrorists – is behind bars since July this year when his interim bail in one of the cases was cancelled by an ATC judge.
The MQM leader had won the mayoral election from the prison and recently got bail in the cases registered at Brigade and Malir City police stations. The prosecution data in these similar cases revolve around a speech of Altaf in which he gave controversial remarks about the military establishment of this country.
Akhtar’s counsel moved the bail application before the ATC judge who approved his plea against a surety bond of Rs 100,000 – in each case – and after hearing the arguments from both sides, the court decided to the release the applicant, if not jailed in any other cases.
