PTI stages protest calling for Haleem’s release

Warns of surrounding CM, Bilawal houses once PSL VI matches conclude in city

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Karachi chapter staged a protest on Tuesday outside the Karachi Press Club, demanding the release of Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Shaikh.

By imposing terrorism charges on Haleem, the Sindh government has proven that it is afraid of him, said PTI MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi, addressing the protest.

"Goons, terrorists and criminals rule this province," said Naqvi, lashing out at the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government and referring to Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch as an example.

Naqvi, who preceded Haleem as the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly denounced the arrest, saying that it was Haleem's car on which bullets were fired and yet it was Haleem against whom an FIR was lodged.

Why were Haleem's farmhouses razed when there were stay orders restraining the demolition, he asked.

Also read: Haleem moved to JPMC

According to Naqvi, it was a PPP worker who opened fire at PTI's Ramzan Ghanchi but he was not arrested or penalised.

Maintaining that the protestors did not wish to disturb peace in the city while Pakistan Super League VI matches are being played at the National Stadium, Naqvi warned the provincial government that the PTI would surround the Chief Minister's House and Bilawal House as soon as the matches conclude if Haleem is not released.

Seconding Naqvi, PTI Karachi President and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman said that the Sindh government should lodge terrorism cases against those who violate peace. He condemned Haleem's arrest and the registration of "false cases" against him.

"We are staging a peaceful protest because we know PSL matches are happening in the city," said Zaman, adding that the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah would not be able to continue with this strategy if the PTI workers are not released.

Similarly, PTI lawmaker Bilal Ghaffar claimed that PTI leaders and workers were being punished for participating in the by-polls in Malir's PS-88 and exposing PPP's corruption.

Ghaffar announced a protest against the PPP and the arrest of Haleem and other PTI workers on February 25 (tomorrow).

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2021.