KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday granted bail to Sindh Assembly’s Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Shaikh in two cases related to rioting and terrorism.
A two-member bench comprising SHC Chief Justice Court Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh and Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed heard bail pleas and granted bail. The court directed Sheikh to submit surety bonds worth Rs0.2 million in each case.
Earlier in March, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) had rejected his bail pleas. Shaikh had his bail rejected by the special court in the cases pertaining to rioting in Malik Memon Goth during PS-88 by-elections and during an anti-encroachment operation.
The cases pertains to attack on police and interference in government duties and disruption in the recent PS-88 by-election. On March 13, the The Sindh High Court had issued notices to the Prosecutor-General Sindh and others to submit their replies in the bail petition of Haleem Adil Shaikh.
During the hearing, Shaikh’s lawyer alleged that his client was booked in the cases on the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and was subjected to vengeful action on being nominated as the opposition leader.
The PTI leader has approached the SHC after an anti-terrorism court had rejected his bail pleas. One case pertains to attempted murder, interference in government duties and disruption during an anti-encroachment drive, while the other was related to violence, firing and causing terror during the by-polls in Karachi’s PS-88.
