PTI to contest elections despite challenges: Haleem

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh president Haleem Adil Shaikh has affirmed the PTI's full commitment to participate in upcoming elections, despite the challenges faced by the party. He expressed these views during an informal conversation with the media after a hearing at the Karachi City Court.

Shaikh said, there is a lot of emphasis on the phrase 'level playing field' with regards to conduct of elections, but he expressed hope that PTI will win despite the fact that currently a large number of the leadership and workers are in jails.

He said that the people of Pakistan have the power to bring the change and ensure free and fair elections. He noted that both the PPP and MQM took advantage of 'many irregularities' during past elections.

Shaikh called for the elections to be held within the constitutional term and expressed expectations that the Chief Justice of Pakistan would fulfill this constitutional responsibility.

Regarding previous mayoral elections, Shaikh mentioned Hafiz Naeemur Rahman's involvement and emphasised that Karachi belongs to PTI Chief Imran Khan.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by his party for supporting Hafiz Naeem and the consequences of that support.

Shaikh also commented on Kamran Tessori's proclaimed meetings with Hafiz Naeem during Local Government elections and stated that PTI suffered losses for supporting JI in LG polls.

In the legal proceedings related to Haleem Adil Shaikh's arrest, the court addressed issues such as the incorrect naming of the accused in the challan, granting time to the investigating officer to correct this error. The hearing of the cases was adjourned until September 28. Haleem Adil Shaikh is accused of attempting to get a detained PTI leader, Hassan Niazi freed during his court appearance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2023.