LHC orders PTI’s Haleem’s release

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday declared Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh’s arrest illegal and ordered his release, granting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) lawmaker protective bail till July 18.

Justice Ali Baqar Najfi read the verdict that said no letter regarding Sheikh’s arrest had been presented in the court.The anti-corruption officials unlocked Sheikh’s handcuffs after the decision was announced.

During the hearing, the court said that Sheikh was a public representative and must be dealt with according to the law.The prosecutor maintained that an (anti-corruption) team came from Sindh and arrested the PTI leader.

The judge questioned whether the team had the authority to make the arrest.Sheikh was taken into custody by men in “plain clothes” from Lahore in the early hours on Wednesday and shifted to an unknown location.

A video of the arrest made rounds on social media. In the CCTV footage, the PTI leader was seen walking with men dressed in civilian clothes.The Lahore police denied arresting him.

According to reports, an anti-corruption unit from Karachi had detained Sheikh in Lahore.

It was said that the Lahore police had assisted the Anti-Corruption Establishment in the exercise.

The Punjab IG police and others were made respondents in the petition.

The plea stated that some men wearing plain clothes took away Haleem Adil. Police were contacted in this regard, but still, the whereabouts of the provincial assembly’s opposition leader have not been disclosed, the petition added.

The petition further stated that despite a lapse of several hours, Mr Adil had not been produced yet before any court. The Lahore High Court is requested to pass an order for the appearance of the PTI leader before a court, the plea added.

‘Kidnapping, but arrest’

Taking to Twitter, PTI secretary general Asad Umar said that Sheikh was arrested by "plain-clothed men in the middle of the night".

"This is not even arrest. It is kidnapping. No rule of law left in the country. This situation is a test for both bar and bench, media and human rights groups," he said.

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Sheikh’s daughter commented on Umar’s tweet, questioning who had taken her father into custody and asked about his whereabouts.

“Can someone tell me who these people are? Has Haleem Adil Sheikh been arrested or was he kidnapped?! Where have they taken him and on what grounds has he been taken?! What is this land of lawlessness?”

In a video statement, Ayesha said she was unaware whether her father was arrested or abducted as no warrant was presented while taking him into custody.

In Another tweet, she said the Lahore police had denied arresting Sheikh."Lahore police say ... they have no idea where he is and that they do not know of any plans for his arrest," she said. So i ask #WhereIsHaleemAdil and WHO TOOK HIM."

Meanwhile, the LHC had directed the Punjab inspector general police (IGP) and the provincial government to submit a comprehensive report on the detention of Sheikh after a petition was filed by his personal secretary through Amir Saeed Rawan Advocate seeking his recovery.

The Punjab IGP, the provincial government and others were made respondents in the case.

Earlier in June, Sheikh had expressed fears that a conspiracy was being hatched to kill him. He had also written a letter to the chief justice highlighting a “grave threat” to his life, allegedly by the PPP leadership.