An anti-corruption unit from Karachi detained Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh in Lahore, spokesperson of the Lahore police said, hours after the PTI said he was arrested by “plain-clothed” men “in the middle of the night” from Punjab’s capital.
Lahore police spokesperson Syed Mubashir confirmed the development that Lahore police had assisted the Anti Corruption Establishment in the exercise. But the arrest was not made by Lahore police and Haleem was in the ACE’s custody.
Earlier, PTI secretary general Asad Umar said on Twitter that Sheikh was arrested by “plain-clothed men in the middle of the night”. “This is not even arrest. It is kidnapping. No rule of law left in the country. This situation is a test for both bar and bench, media and human rights groups,” he said.
Umar’s tweet followed multiple posts on social media by Haleem’s daughter, Ayesha Haleem, who said the incident occurred at 3:30am. She also shared video clips. Dawn.com has not been able to verify the clips independently.
In a video statement on Twitter, Ayesha said: “I don’t know whether this is an arrest or a kidnapping, as there was no warrant. Neither his lawyers nor his family knows of his whereabouts.”
She added that Haleem had indicated multiple times, particularly during the last week, that there was a threat to his life. “He had written letters to relevant authorities, including the chief justice of Pakistan, telling them that there was a threat to his life and that he had received information that plans had been devised to take him into custody and cause him harm.”
Ayesha alleged 20 to 25 police mobile units were stationed around their residence during the last week and monitoring people, as well as Haleem’s whereabouts. She added that the mobile vans included vehicles that were part of the Chief Minister House’s security detail. Moreover, she continued, “there were individuals in civilian clothes, many of whom had criminal backgrounds”.
“Maybe the Peoples Party (PPP) sent its jiyalas — God knows what. But what I want to highlight is that right now, we don’t know where Haleem Adil Sheikh is, who took him away, and what is his condition. For the past three-and-a-half hours, nobody knows anything about his whereabouts,” Ayesha said.
“If there is any authority left in this country that can enforce the law and protect human rights, can it tell me where is my father? Who took him away? Whether he is safe? How may we talk to him? How can his legal team meet him? What’s his crime?”
She alleged Haleem had been “politically victimised” by the Sindh government in the past as well as he had been “exposing” them. She recounted that he was booked under terrorism charges a month ago and the time of the offence mentioned was when Haleem was visiting a television channel for a live programme.
“If he goes to cast his vote in the election, a case is registered against him,” she added. “So I just want to ask is there any law, is there anyone who is left to see what’s happening in this country.”
In a subsequent tweet, she said the Lahore police had denied arresting Haleem.
“Lahore police say … they have no idea where he is and that they do not know of any plans for his arrest,” she said. So i ask #WhereIsHaleemAdil and WHO TOOK HIM.”
She elaborated that the family had contacted the Gulberg police station in Lahore, from whose jurisdiction Haleem was taken away. “The police officer laughed at our faces and said he has no idea where @HaleemAdil [is] and that they have no information about the arrest,” she tweeted.
In separate tweets, Ayesha reiterated Haleem “has been very clear that Sindh police have plans to TAKE HIS LIFE IN CUSTODY. They have already gotten him beaten up in jail before and this time my father even wrote to IG, Add IC, CJ Sindh and CJ Pakistan indicating the threats to his life”.
She also stressed that Haleem could not be arrested without the permission of Sindh Assembly speaker as he was the leader of the opposition in the house.
“Also, what arrests are made in the middle of the night without any warrants by people in civilian clothes?! Is this an arrest or a kidnapping!?” she further questioned.
