ATC rejects Haleem’s bail pleas

Verdict was announced on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader's bail pleas at Karachi Central Jail

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court rejected on Monday the bail pleas of Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh in two cases pertaining to violence during the by-polls in Malir's PS-88 and the anti-encroachment operation in Memon Goth.

ATC No3 announced the verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader's bail pleas at Karachi Central Jail.

Meanwhile, another PTI leader, Mir Sameer Sheikh, and his driver, Ghulam Mustafa, were granted bail. They were granted bail against the surety of Rs50,000 each.

Sameer was the co-accused in the PS-88 case against Haleem. The former was whisked away in a police mobile by men in plain clothes from outside the Sindh High Court building on February 19.

Sameer's lawyers, Shahid Soomro and Saifi Ali, had argued that the cases against their client were based on malice and that he was not present during the anti-encroachment operation or the by-elections.

Warrants issued

An anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Manzoor Pashteen on Monday, after the police submitted a supplementary challan in the case against MNA Ali Wazir and others.

The ATC was hearing the case pertaining to provocative speech and treason at the Karachi Central Jail. The PTM leaders have been accused of using inappropriate language against state institutions.

The supplementary challan stated that accused, Pashteen and Mohsin Javed, are on the run.

It further added that five more accused, namely, Javed Raheem, Tahir, Ibrahim Khan, Naimatullah and Sarwar, have also been arrested in the case. According to the challan, the accused used inappropriate language against national institutions.

It stated that Wazir was arrested from Peshawar and the others were apprehended in Karachi. The case against them was lodged at Sohrab Goth Police Station.

The court accepted the challan and directed the police to arrest the accused on the run and produce them before the court at the next hearing slated for March 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2021.