PTI’s Haleem Adil Sheikh detained by police as violence mars PS-88 by-polls

Sheikh claims that the attack was orchestrated by the Pakistan People’s Party

KARACHI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Haleem Adil Sheikh was detained by police on Tuesday after incidents of violence marred the ongoing PS-88 by-polls.

"I am in the office of SSP Malir. And now I have been arrested," said the ruling party leader.
 

Haleem claimed that his police security, assigned to him as he is the leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly, was withdrawn a week earlier and he was accompanied by his private guards during the visit to the polling stations.

"They [PPP] attacked first attacked a female MPA of ours, then they attacked our district manager Dr Masroor, all in the presence of police, and then when I went there shots were fired."

"If my guards had not retaliated by firing in the air, they [PPP] would have murdered me just like Murtaza Bhutto," claimed the provincial opposition leader.

Earlier in the day, the leader had claimed that his vehicle was shot at during his visit to Karachi's Malir PS-88 polling station where by-elections are taking place.

“I told you before that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Murad Ali Shah would orchestrate an attack today,” the PTI leader claimed. “No lives were lost as the car was bulletproof. The attack occurred in the presence of the police," he added.

Sheikh, expressing dissatisfaction with the provincial police, said the Sindh Rangers should immediately reach areas where by-polls are being conducted.

“We are peaceful people. PPP has taken the people hostage at the polling station,” Sheikh added.

Earlier in the day, the PPP filed a complaint against the PTI leader to the Election Commission of Pakistan for roaming in the polling area with "armed persons and harassing the voters".

Read More: By-polls for three seats of Sindh, Balochistan assemblies underway

The complaint stated that “Mr. Shaikh being a member of Sindh Assembly is not permitted under the Law to enter the constituency and that too with armed persons. He has been reported to have entered with armed persons in polling stations nos. 20 and 22 of Bhitai Abad”.

The letter further stated that voters were being taken to the office of PTI situated in the area and were being given “Parchis on the promise of being paid [Rs] 12,000 UNDER EHSAS program if they vote for PTI candidate.”

In a video message, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab urged the ECP to investigate the matter as the "onus to conduct free and fair elections laid with them".

Polling for three seats of the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies is underway in the constituencies of Malir, Sanghar, and Pishin.

The seats had fallen vacant after the demises of Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Ghulam Murtaza Baloch and Jam Madad Ali and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl 's (JUI-F) Syed Faza Agha.

The elections are ongoing for the PS 88 Malir 2, PS 43 Sanghar, PB 20 Pishin seats.