SHC summons prisons IG on plea seeking details of cases against Haleem Adil

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday took exception to the failure of the IG of prisons in the province and the superintendent of the Central Prison Karachi to file comments on pending cases against a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and directed the IG to appear before it and explain the position.

The direction came on a petition filed by former opposition leader in Sindh Haleem Adil Sheikh seeking details of pending cases and protection against arrest in new cases. A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto observed that directions have been issued to the superintendent of the central prison to submit a report along with details of cases in which sureties have been furnished on behalf of Sheikh and release writ have been received by him from the trial court.

The court observed that no response was received from het IG prisons, and directed him to appear before the court and file a compliance report. The IG submitted that directions have been issued to the subordinate officers to comply with the orders of the court in letter and spirit. The SHOs of Ferozabad and Preedy submitted their reports mentioning that Sheikh was arrested in connection with a case registered under the anti- terrorism law.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the petitioner was granted bail in all cases, but despite court orders he was being implicated in fresh cases. The court had on an earlier hearing restrained the police from registering cases against Sheikh without prior permission of the court.

Azam Swati plea: PTI leader Azam Khan Swati also filed an application against the registration of cases against him in Sindh. The petitioner’s counsel Ali Tahir submitted that police had registered several cases against Swati and he was unable to seek protection against these cases. The court was requested to direct the police to submit details of pending cases against the petitioner and restrain police from harassing him and to provide protection to him in any false cases.