85 to 100 PTI seats have been stolen: Haleem

Says chief election commissioner should resign for his failure to stop rigging

KARACHI:

The leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh has said that around 85 to 100 seats of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been stolen by changing the results in the recent local government elections in Karachi Division.

“One force of the PPP keeps us busy in courts, while the other (police) is used to scare us, but they can never scare us,” Sheikh said while speaking to the media at the City Courts on Saturday. “The chief election commissioner should resign for his failure to hold rigging-free LB elections.”

Haleem, who has been implicated in several cases, was at the City Courts in connection with a hearing. He said that he was being harassed by the PPP for highlighting public issues. “Whenever I highlight a public issue, they file a case against me,” he said, adding, “They can neither buy us nor scare us.”

He said, “We do not accept the results of the LB elections in Karachi. This city belongs to Kaptaan (Imran Khan).”

Haleem predicted that the next general elections would be held in April as the PTI has dissolved the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier, Haleem and his lawyer appeared before the Additional District and Sessions Judge South in a defamation case filed by Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani.

Addressing Ghani, the judge asked: “You have filed a defamation case against Haleem Adil Sheikh? Can money trump honour? Sit together and make peace.” Ghani replied that he is willing to withdraw the case if Haleem tenders a written apology.

Haleem’s lawyer said that his client is ready to sit and talk with Ghani but will not tender a written apology.

The judge advised them to give up their egos and resolve the matter amicably. “Allah Almighty and his Beloved Prophet (PBUH) love those who forgive others. You should follow the path of Allah Almighty and reconcile with each other,” he remarked.

Haleem said that his words must have hurt Saeed Ghani. “He is a part of the Sindh government which sent police to raid my house during the wedding ceremony of my two daughters,” Haleem said, adding that the police humiliated his family members.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2023.