ATC sends Haleem on two-day physical remand

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court sent on Wednesday opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh and four others accused of violence, firing, attempt to murder and causing terror during the PS-88 by-poll on a two-day physical remand.

At the hearing, the investigation, presented Haleem and other accused, namely Ghulam Mustafa, Abdul Haseeb, Mehmood and Ramzan, before the court, moving it to grant the police their physical remand so that they could be interrogated.

The court remanded Haleem and others in police custody until Friday.

Separately, a Malir district court granted Haleem bail in two cases pertaining to the demolition of his farmhouses. The bail was granted against a surety of Rs10,000.

Later, speaking to the media outside the court, Haleem accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of attempting to kill him during the by-poll.

"They tried to kill me just like they killed Murtaza Bhutto, as I had predicted earlier," he said.

Haleem further claimed that he was being targeted for political revenge, also alleging the Sindh IGP of facilitating the PPP for the purpose.

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

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Khurram Sher Zaman also addressed media persons outside the court on the day. He claimed that the PPP-led Sindh government had withdrawn the security of PTI parliamentarians.

"Now, if there is any loss of life [of PTI lawmakers, PPP co-chairperson] Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and [Sindh Chief Minister] Murad Ali Shah are to be held responsible," he said.

Zaman further stated that Haleem was being punished raising voice against "Murad Ali Shah and the Sindh government's corruption."

"But our fight against the corruption of the Sindh government and for the rights of the province's people will continue," he added.

"We will not remain silent against Bilawal's corrupt government and will get a case for firing on the car of the opposition leader registered."

Zaman also alleged that the by-polls on Tuesday, in which the PPP had secured victory, were rigged.

"And the man who was shot, and whose farmhouses were demolished and who was insulted has now been arrested," he lamented.