Karachi’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi on Monday acquitted former Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, along with two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers, Ijaz and Umair Siddiqui, in connection with the infamous May 12 tragedy case.
The court’s decision came after a lengthy legal battle, in which the prosecution failed to provide solid evidence linking the accused to the violence that took place on that fateful day.
The prosecution had claimed that Wasim Akhtar, while in his capacity as a senior MQM leader and Sindh Home Minister, had instructed the party’s headquarters to hold a meeting and block roads, which allegedly led to widespread arson and violence. However, the court found these accusations insufficient and lacking in concrete evidence. Akhtar’s defense attorney, Mushtaq Awan, argued that there was no proof to suggest that his client had ordered any unlawful activity. Awan maintained that the accused were innocent and should be acquitted.
The case dates back to the tragic events of May 12, 2007, when violent clashes erupted in Karachi on the day of a planned visit by then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The violence, which resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people and injuries to many others, included widespread rioting, arson, and disruptions to the city’s order. The Airport Police had registered a case against Wasim Akhtar and others, accusing them of inciting the violence and causing chaos on the streets.
