PTI slams arrest of its senior leader in Sindh
KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly and Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Sheikh has been arrested by Anti-corruption Establishment (ACE) Jamshoro officials in connection with a land transaction of Malir, Karachi.
PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan termed the arrest a “pure fascism.”
“Strongly condemn persecution & arrest of Sindh Opposition leader Haleem Adil Sheikh by Sindh govt. This is pure fascism, reflecting the Zardarisharif mafia’s approach of eliminating those they cannot purchase & it is absolutely unacceptable in any democracy,” Imran tweeted.
Soon after his arrest, PTI lawyers gathered in Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad circuit bench for hearing of a habeas corpus petition after closure of courts. PTI lawyers led by retired Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi wanted the hearing on the petition.
Sheikh had appeared before ACE Jamshoro and was arrested after he had recorded his statement. The PTI activists blocked a section of National Highway after his arrest.
ACE officer Zeeshan Hyder had summoned him to record his statement at ACE police station Kotri in a land transaction case of 63-acre government land in Thana Bula Khan.
According to PTI activist and lawyer, Bhagwandas, who had sought interim pre-arrest bail of his client on July 18 in Hyderabad, Sheikh was granted pre-arrest bail in this case by Special Judge Anti Corruption (provincial) and it was fixed for confirmation in Hyderabad. Sheikh had joined the investigation today but was arrested in another case, he said.
“Details of the new case are not available and we are sitting in SHC Hyderabad circuit to file a habeas corpus petition for the production of Sheikh before court of law,” he said.
Bhagwandas said that SHC additional registrar Sabit Ali Shah had been contacted to open Hyderabad circuit bench of SHC like Punjab where SC registry was opened at night in Lahore.
“We are with retired Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and we want hearing of our petition. Sabit Ali Shah told us that a message has been conveyed to the Chief Justice of the SHC and we are awaiting the response,” he said.