PTI warns of protests

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Karachi wing warned on Thursday that it would resort to staging protests outside the Chief Minister's House if "fake cases" against opposition leader in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Shaikh, are not withdrawn. They criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for its rejection of their request to the ECP to facilitate the issue of production orders for Shaikh, who was sent on a two-day physical remand by an anti-terrorism court on Wednesday.

Censuring the ECP, Member of Sindh Assembly and the spokesperson for PTI Karachi, Jamaluddin Siddiqui, stated that the ECP had acted like the "B-team" of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government in the by-polls.

Production orders are the right of every parliamentarian, he said, accusing the ECP of acting unfairly. Siddiqui urged the Sindh High Court to take action on the matter.

PTI MPA Bilal Ahmed Ghaffar had requested the ECP on Wednesday asking it to issue production orders for Shaikh so that he may appear before the ECP's returning officer as a guarantor for Erum Butt - a PTI nominee for the Senate elections.

Rejecting the request, the ECP sent its polling officer, Nadeem Haider, to Shaikh in custody and completed the verification process.

Meanwhile, PTI MPA Saeed Ahmed Afridi warned of protests outside the CM's House if "fake cases" are not withdrawn.

Afridi accused the PPP of creating an atmosphere of "terrorism" in Malir during the PS-88 by-polls. He alleged that PPP jiyalas had harassed PTI workers and opened fire on them.

Also read: ATC sends Haleem on two-day physical remand

Moreover, PTI member of Sindh Assembly Malik Shehzad Awan lodged a complaint at Memon Goth Police Station over the alleged attack on Shaikh.

In his complaint, Awan stated that he had received a phone call on February 16 - polling day - informing him that a polling station in Jhokio Goth was under attack by armed men, who drove out the PTI polling agents present there.

Awan stated that when he reached there, there was a commotion and armed men attacked him and his companions too. Mir Abbas and Mujahid Jhokio were also seen there with their supporters, equipped with weapons, said Awan, claiming that the PPP workers were armed with Kalashnikovs and 9mm pistols and they opened fire at the vehiclesAwan's supporters.

Gunshots were fired at Shaikh's vehicle as well during this attack, according to Awan, who stated that the PTI leaders were trapped there till the police came and pulled them out.

Awan further alleged that it appeared as if Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had conspired to kill Shaikh.

Speaking to the media after lodging the complaint, Awan, who was flanked by PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman and other lawmakers, said that the SP had refused to file the FIR.

Accusing the Sindh Police of acting only in the interests of the PPP, Awan said that Karachi AIG Ghulam Nabi Memon did not answer his phone calls either.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2021.