KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Thursday directed investigating officers to submit charge sheet against detained Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh and others in cases pertaining to alleged violence, rioting, attempted murder and causing terror during the by-elections in the PS-88 constituency of Malir.

Mr Sheikh, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader, along with dozens of other party activists has been booked and arrested in connection with four criminal cases related to instigating violence, rioting, attempted murder and causing terror during the Feb 16 by-elections and obstructing and attacking officials during demolition of his farmhouse on Feb 6.

The opposition leader was booked in two of the four cases under anti-terrorism law.

On Thursday, the ATC-III judge took up the applications filed by Mr Sheikh and another suspect Sameer Meer seeking grant of post-arrest bail to them. Mr Meer was produced from prison.

However, the IO, Nazar Mangrio, informed the judge that the opposition leader could not be produced before the court since he was busy in the ongoing session of the Sindh Assembly.

The judge directed the IO to appear along with the police file and adjourned the hearing till Feb 27.

In the meanwhile, the judge also told the IO to submit interim charge sheets in both cases till March 8.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021