Court orders release of Haleem Adil Sheikh in May 9 riot cases

KARACHI: A local court in Karachi has issued an order for the release of Haleem Adil Sheikh, the Sindh president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in cases related to the May 9 riots. These riots involved attacks on military installations following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. The court specifically addressed charges of arson and violence during protests against Imran Khan’s arrest in Islamabad.

As part of the release conditions, the court has mandated that Haleem Adil Sheikh submit surety bonds amounting to Rs200,000, absolving him of the charges under Section 173 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It is noteworthy that Haleem Adil Sheikh was arrested by the police in September of the previous year, immediately following an antiterrorism court’s (ATC) order for his release in another case. A series of tactics were reportedly employed by the police in a one-hour-long drama before the administrative judge of the ATCs in Clifton to secure his custody.

Several senior PTI leaders, including 11 former lawmakers, are facing charges in approximately four cases related to arson and violence during protests against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.

In a prior development on January 2, the Judicial Magistrate South court formally charged Haleem Adil Sheikh and former PTI leader Ali Zaidi for allegedly aiding Hassan Niazi in escaping from Karachi’s city court. Both Sheikh and Zaidi appeared before the court, where they were accused of attempting to facilitate the release of detained PTI leader Hassan Niazi during his court appearance.