Haleem Adil arrested for violating ECP code of conduct

KARACHI – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President and Opposition Leader in the Provincial Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh was detained by police for violating ECP code of conduct as by-election in PS-88 was marred by incidents of violence. 

PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh was expelled from PS-88 (Malir) on directives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The constituency witnessed intense electioneering throughout the day, as the supporters of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the PTI indulged in a scuffle. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) also alleged that their ‘peaceful’ supporters were attacked by ‘armed’ PPP men. The ECP ordered Sheikh’s expulsion on which Malir police took him into custody and reportedly he was implicated in older cases.

Sindh Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan in a statement issued here said that ECP Chief Muhammad Jalal Sikandar Sultan Raja telephoned him and directed to take across the board action against all those who violated ECP’s code of conduct. “No concession will be given to any party or candidate,” he added.

‘Real face of PPP exposed’

In a video message, Sheikh said that it was he and his supporters who were attacked by the PPP supporters. “After we were attacked, my security guards resorted to aerial firing to disperse the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, PTI Karachi President Khurram Sher Zaman said that what happened in PS-88 was shown by the entire media and the real face of the PPP had exposed. Addressing a press conference at PTI’s main election office, Sher Zaman said that the ECP and police were seemed least bothered in the entire matter. “The ECP has failed to hold transparent elections,” he opined. 

He also condemned the arrest of opposition leader and said that he was arrested on the orders of the Chief Minister. “CM Syed Murad Ali Shah rigged PS-88 polls through SSPs and SHOs. The PPP was afraid of the campaign carried out by our candidate Jansher Junejo,” he added.

‘PTI resorted to terrorism’

Separately, provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Saeed Ghani said that PTI resorted to ‘terrorism’ after admitting its defeat in PS-88 Malir and PS-43 Sanghar.

Addressing an urgent presser, they alleged the PTI and its Sindh president of trying to halt the polling process in Malir. “It is responsibility of the Election Commission to register FIR against Haleem Adil Sheikh after all the evidence against him was emerged,” he said.

Ghani alleged that Sheikh went to polling stations along with his 40 to 50 ‘armed’ men. He said that many PTI’ members of national and provincial assemblies could be seen with their armed men to ‘influence’ the by-poll. The provincial minister said that the ECP and concerned DRO should register an FIR against the PTI leader for violating the rules and regulations and visiting the polling stations with armed men “We have also submitted an application for lodging FIR against the PTI leader,” Ghani added.

Responding to a question, the minister said that Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly along with armed men visited Jokhio Goth and opened fire on unarmed voters and workers of PPP.

TLP rejects result

Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Karachi Ameer Allama Razi Hussaini said that the PPP broke rigging record in ‘supervision’ of Sindh police. Addressing an emergent meeting at the party’s central election office, Allama Hussaini said that the ECP and police remained silent spectator ‘while the PPP was using weapons and torturing the TLP workers’.

“The PPP used resources of provincial government as it was afraid of obvious defeat,” the TLP Sindh chief added.