Haleem Adil Sheikh asks PTI local leader to keep his 'iron rod' ready for opponents

SUKKUR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's provincial leadership has asked Iftikhar Ahmed Lund to keep his 'iron rod' ready for July 23 - the day of the by-polls for the NA-205 constituency of the National Assembly in Ghotki district.

"You may not have had the iron rod on that day, but keep an iron rod with you on the 23rd; it may be needed," said Haleem Adil Sheikh, addressing a press conference in Ghotki on Saturday. Sheikh was referring to a case against Lund, who has recently been nominated as the party's focal person on human rights for Sindh.

A couple of months ago, a former employee of Lund had accused him of beating and sexually assaulting him with a metal object in the presence of local people. Various political and social activists demanded the PTI leadership to take stern action against him but Lund was appointed as the focal person on human rights for Sindh.

During the press conference, Sheikh justified his party's move by saying that Lund had been cleared by the court after the victim had submitted an affidavit, saying he had no connection to the assault.

The PTI's newly-appointed Sindh president and Sindh Assembly lawmaker, Sheikh, also said that his party had issued a show-cause notice to Lund after the allegations. "The party, therefore, appointed him on this position," he clarified.