KARACHI: Jailed Karachi Mayor and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader (MQM) Waseem Akhtar and deputy mayor Arshad Vohra, also of the MQM, took oath at Bagh-i-Quaid-i-Azam on Tuesday.
After taking oath, Waseem Akhtar began his address by raising the slogan, “Long live Muttahida, Long live Bhutto, Long live Imran Khan.”
“We have to set aside our differences,” Akhtar said, addressing PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto and Asif Zardari.
Clearly disassociating from the anti Pakistan speech by Altaf Hussain, Waseem Akhtar vowed that they want to see Pakistan develop and will not allow any harm to it. He said the development of Karachi and Sindh is the development of Pakistan.
“After eight years, Karachi has a mayor, a deputy mayor, a chairman and a vice chairman. We will have to work together for the betterment of this city and this province.”
“We know Karachi is plagued by a number of issues. These problems are our problems,” Akhtar said, requesting all those elected to set aside their differences for the progress of the metropolis.
Praising Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah , Wasim Akhtar said he is well aware of the problems of Karachi and working actively to resolve them. He hoped that the Chief Minister would provide financial resources to resolve the Karachi problem.
He called on diplomats and businessmen to aid him in this endeavor. “I need your help to fix these issues faced by Karachi,” he said.
“But unfortunately, I am in jail… These are all false charges. After taking oath, I have decided to move a bail application in court. And I am sure I will get justice… As soon as I am released from jail, I will meet you in your offices and take guidance [from you], and meet people from different walks of life. And of course, with all the political parties that have contested the election for this city,” he said.
“There were many hurdles. We are taking oath today, after nine months whereas London’s new mayor assumed office in just four hours.”
“On the lighter side,” he quipped, “It is almost as if this was a cesarean child. It was not a normal delivery. Let’s hope for the best.”
After stepping away from the mic, Akhtar once again took to the podium to express support for the MQM and Farooq Sattar. “We will work together for Karachi and Sindh,” he said.
His statement comes just days after Sattar announced the MQM was dissociating itself from party chief Altaf Hussain and the London office following Hussain’s anti-Pakistan speech which sparked violent protests in Karachi.
After addressing the swearing in ceremony Waseem Akhtar on the insistence of the media addressed journalists stressed that he does not have differences with anyone and added that he will visit the local government minister.
Akhtar told journalists that he would support MQM-Pakistan under the supervision of Dr. Farooq Sattar.
He ended his media talk raising slogans for the prosperity of Karachi, Sindh and Pakistan.
Waseem Akhtar had earlier made it clear that he is not the Mayor of a political party but rather the Mayor of all of Karachi and its inhabitants. He said during the next four years he would not be a politician.
Earlier on Tuesday, after the notification of victory was issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the Returning Officer Samiuddin Siddiqui issued a letter to the Jail Superintendent of the Karachi Central Prison to produce Waseem Akhtar under foolproof security to take oath as Mayor of Karachi.
An armoured personnel carrier (APC) arrived at the Karachi Central Jail to transport Akhtar from the prison to the venue for oath taking.
The swearing in ceremony was scheduled for 11:00AM but was delayed due to last minute notifications and the PTI leaders petition before the Sindh High Court seeking to stop Akhtar from being sworn in.
The swearing in ceremony was attended among others by Dr Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, some other MQM top leaders, diplomats and citizens.
