Imprisoned MQM leader takes oath as Karachi mayor

Waseem Akhtar, the newly elected mayor of Karachi, took oath of office on Tuesday despite the fact that he is currently in prison. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader took oath despite staunch opposition from rival parties.

Waseem, a former MP who is being held at Karachi’s central prison, was brought to the city’s main square, the Karachi Polo Ground amid high security to take oath of office.

The tenure of the city’s last elected mayor, Syed Mustafa Kamal, ended in February, 2010.

Family members of Waseem and MQM leader Farooq Sattar were present at the oath-taking. MQM’s Arshad Vohra took oath as deputy mayor. Opening his speech with the chants “long live Muttahida, long live Bhutto and long live Imran Khan,” Waseem said:“I ensure that we will work together for the betterment of this city and the province.”

“I am currently in prison but all charges against me are fake,” the mayor said.