KARACHI: PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh has been arrested, Senior Superintendent of Police Malir Irfan Bahadur said on Tuesday, as polls were underway in the city’s PS-88 constituency.
An armored personnel carrier has been requested for his transport, said the police officer, adding that he will be taken to the Memon Goth police station.
As the arrest took place, riot police were stationed outside the SSP’s office. Water cannons and additional troops were also at the ready to deal with any protests. All the police personnel were given anti-riot gear.
At one point, Sheikh attempted to exit the SSP’s office but his departure was prevented by police personnel.
A video statement of Sheikh was released following his arrest. “I have been informed by the SSP Malir that I have been arrested,” he said.
“As Leader of the Opposition, I should have been given security,” Sheikh said, adding that security was withdrawn “on the orders of Zardari and Bilawal”.
He said that he was not present in the constituency but his workers were “attacked”.
“When I got there, I too, was attacked,” he alleged, adding that his guards resorted to aerial firing to disperse the “attackers”. “They harassed me to influence the election,” Sheikh claimed, without naming anyone.
He further claimed that the party workers were forcibly removed from the polling stations and shoved around.
“The PPP have tried to take over the election via an elaborate plot,” he alleged. “I will not let go of this easily. There will be payback for every move,” Sheikh said.
The PTI leader said that he was taken away from the constituency but was not allowed to leave the SP police’s office. He also said that his guards were taken into police custody.
Conflicting reports had emerged earlier of the arrest, with the move being denied by the DIG East.
On the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Sindh Police had escorted Sheikh out of the PS-88 constituency as clashes broke out with polling underway.
“Haleem Adil Sheikh is being removed from the constituency on the orders of the Election Commission,” said DIG East Muhammad Nouman Siddiqui, insisting that the PTI leader was not arrested. He added that the Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly has been taken to the SSP Malir’s office.
The police was acting on the orders of the ECP, after the latter had sent written orders to remove Sheikh from the constituency.
The order was written by the Regional Election Commissioner Nadeem Haider and was sent to SP Malir.
In a separate letter to SSP Malir, Haider told the police to make sure that no elected representative is in the constituency.
He added that if any elected representative is found then he or she should be kicked out.
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