Terror suspects in Karachi attack referred to ATC

The Yaum-i-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) procession passing through MA Jinnah Road in Karachi. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi has refused to give remand of the arrested people accused of firing on a religious procession in Karachi on Wednesday.

The magistrate has instead referred the case to the Anti-Terrorism Court.

The Karachi police had arrested five people for allegedly firing on the religious procession near the Empress Market.

When the police produced the accused before the magistrate on Friday for seeking their physical remand, the court noted that since it was a case of sectarian violence it should be dealt by an Anti-Terrorism Court.

Five people were injured when shots were fired in the middle of a mourning procession to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA) in Karachi on Wednesday. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the police had claimed that they had detained 20 men in connection with the incident.

The procession to observe the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA) was held on Wednesday amid tight security, however protestors blamed the government for not providing adequate security.