KARACHl: A day after being released from jail on bail, Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar was showered with rose petals and presented with bouquets when he showed up at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) building to assume charge on Thursday, some two-and-a-half months after he was sworn in.

Mr Akhtar is the first mayor in country`s history to have won the mayoral election from behind bars as he has been facing trial in a case pertaining to the facilitation and provision of medical treatment to suspected terrorists and gangsters at the hospital of former PPP minister Dr Asim Hussain.

He was elected on Aug 23 and brought in jail vans from the Central Prison Karachi to the Polo Ground where he was sworn in on Aug 30.

Mr Akhtar was released from jail on Wednesday after being granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi in the last of the 39 cases against him.

After assuming his office at the KMC building, Mr Akhtar said he had faith in the Almighty for his protection as he had not yet received the security that a mayor was entitled to. A rare smile was on his face after being under the sky without police cordon first time in the last four months, as he said: `It feels good to be home.

`I have no security that a mayor is entitled to, yet I am confident that I am able to safeguard myself with the help of Allah.

About the clash between supporters of the rival MQM-London and MQM-Pakistan on Wednesday when he attempted to visit the `monument of the martyrs`, the mayor said he didn`t want any clash.

It`s time to deliberate upon the limited powers that he had been granted by the Sindh government, he said, adding that he would discuss it with the government soon.

Mr Akhtar said he would work with all political parties and the provincial government for the betterment of Karachi. He added that he would also take up the issue of the limited powers of mayor with the Sindh government. `Besides, we will work to eliminate terrorism for lasting peace in the city,` he said.

The chief minister was the custodian of the municipal bodies in the province and he was responsible to provide funds to the municipalities so that the latter could develop their cities and towns, he added.

`Credit will go to the Sindh government for a successful local government system, and it will also benefit the province in terms of revenue.