PTI leaders get relief in May 9 cases

SHC restrains police from arresting Halim Adil Shaikh, magistrate grants bail to MPA Firdaus Shamim Naqvi

KARACHI:

Pakistran Tehreek-e-Insaaf MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi was granted bail by the Judicial Magistrate East district. The case against Naqvi involves allegations of arson and disturbing public order, besides much serious charges of instigating public against state institutions.

The accused has been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act in the FIR filed at the Shahrah-e-Faisal Police Station, as stated by the public prosecutor.

However, after reviewing the case file from the Shahrah-e-Faisal police station, the court deemed the charges bailable. During the proceedings, it was mentioned that the police officers at the station may have verbally or physically mistreated Naqvi. However, Naqvi denied experiencing any abuse. Consequently, the court approved Naqvi's bail request, requiring him to pay Rs5,000 instead of providing surety bonds. On the other hand, the Anti-Terrorism Administrative Court has granted a two-day physical remand of Firdous Shamim Naqvi to the police.

Police restrained from arresting Haleem Adil Shaikh

The Sindh High Court has restrained police from arresting Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Shaikh.

Justice Omar Sial issued a notice to the Inspector General (IG) of Sindh in response to a petition concerning the potential arrest of Shaikh. The lawyer representing the petitioner, Raj Ali Wahid Kanwar Advocate, argued that there is an ongoing crackdown on the arrest of PTI leaders and workers, which has led to Shaikh going into hiding. Additionally, SHC bench has issued notices to the Sindh IG and other relevant institutions in response to a petition filed by the wife of PTI Sindh President Ali Zaidi, against his arrest.

During the hearing, the lawyer representing the petitioner claimed that Zaidi had been arrested from Kala Pull after protest at Shahrae Faisal and taken to an undisclosed location. It was argued that if there are any cases against Ali Zaidi, they should be presented in court. The court has directed the IG of Sindh and other institutions to respond to the notices.

Moreover, PTI activist Abdul Jalil Khan Marwat Advocate has challenged the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) regarding the arrests of PTI leaders and workers. In a petition filed with the Sindh High Court, Marwat argued that the Sindh government had imprisoned 263 PTI workers and leaders under the MPO.

Despite implementing Section 144 on May 13, the Pakistan Peoples Party conducted a meeting and organised rallies.

Marwat requested the court to declare the arrests under MPO null and void and to release all PTI leaders and workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2023.