Abb Takk News
Courts and CasesCRIME AND CORRUPTIONMOST POPULARNews TickerPakistanTop NewsTRENDING

May 12 Tragedy Case: MQM Leader Wasim Akhtar acquitted due to lack of evidence

KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi acquitted MQM leader Wasim Akhtar along with two other accused in the May 12, 2007 tragedy case due to lack of evidence.

While delivering the verdict in one of the cases related to May 12, the Anti-Terrorism Court acquitted Wasim Akhtar, who was the Interior Advisor at the time, along with two other accused, Umar Siddiqui and Ejaz Shah Qadri, due to insufficient evidence.

According to the prosecution, the case against the accused was registered at the Airport Police Station, where they were charged with rioting and arson on May 12, 2007.

It is noteworthy that the court had declared 12 accused, including MQM’s founder, as absconders in the case. The court has issued permanent arrest warrants for the absconding accused.

Six cases related to the May 12, 2007 tragedy are still pending.

On May 12, 2007, the lawyers’ movement was at its peak. At that time, the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was visiting Karachi for the 50th anniversary of the Sindh High Court. During his visit, the city was drenched in blood.

When the deposed Chief Justice arrived in Karachi, opposition party workers came out to welcome him, leading to armed clashes between the ruling party and opposition workers at various locations. The city’s streets witnessed free use of weapons, and in the ensuing violence, 48 people, including lawyers, were killed in broad daylight.

Over 130 people were injured in these incidents, and dozens of vehicles and properties were set on fire. Following this, seven murder cases were registered at various police stations in the city, with one of the verdicts now being announced.