Summary MQM's appointed Mayor was arrested in the court premises last month
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Supreme Court on Wednesday has permitted to bring amendment in plea seeking to hold Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s appointed Mayor, Waseem Akhtar from dealing with government affairs after he was sworn in yesterday.
A two-member bench presided over by Justice Dost Muhammad heard Shahid Ghouri’s plea which was filed with Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry a day before Akhtar was sworn in on Tuesday as the Mayor of Karachi.
Ghouri had filed the plea under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. The same day, another petition was filed in the Sindh High Court by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Faisal Vawda to stop Akhtar from taking oath but was thrown out.
As the Supreme Court furthered its proceedings today, Justice Dost Muhammad voiced concerns of the judicial panel stating how could Waseem Akhtar be able to handle government affairs from inside the jail.
Justice Muhammad stated that a mayor needs to take care of important affairs and thus cannot perform his duties effectively from inside the prison.
The court demanded off the petitioner to review the matter in the light of the law.
Petitioner stated that a ‘criminal’ could not assume charge as Mayor of the city as he is involved in different crimes including violence that erupted in the streets of Karachi on May 12, 2007.
He urged the Supreme Court to permit brining amendment in the petition to stop Waseem Akhtar from dealing with government affairs after he was sworn in on Tuesday in a ceremony in Karachi’s Polo Ground.
Supreme Court entertained Ghouri’s request of amending the plea.
MQM’s appointed Mayor was arrested in the court premises last month after he was refused extension in interim bail in a terror case.
Waseem Akhtar was detained as he was nominated in a case against Dr Asim Hussain, former petroleum minister who is alleged of facilitating terrorists and providing them shelter in the name of medical treatment in his hospital in Karachi.
Dr Asim was arrested in August last year by Rangers and during the interrogation, Waseem Akhtar, Pakistan People’s Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel, MQM’s Rauf Siddque and Pak Sarzameen Party’s Anees Qaimkhani were named.
The accused were granted interim bails and extensions were given several times since then until last month.
