Four sent on 5-day judicial remand in fast food outlet attack

KARACHI:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has granted a five-day physical remand of four suspects accused of attacking an outlet of an American foreign fast food restaurants chain, while seven others have been sent to jail on judicial remand in connection with a similar incident.

The Sir Syed police presented four accused - identified as Asad, Noman, Talha, and Rehan - before the ATC at the Anti-Terrorism Complex in Central Jail on Friday. The investigating officer (IO) informed the court that the accused were involved in chanting provocative slogans and pelting stones at the fast food franchise. A government vehicle's windshield was shattered and the restaurant's property was damaged in the attack, spreading panic and fear in the neighbourhood.

The IO further stated that the accused appeared to be habitual offenders and pleaded for time to examine their criminal records and identify others involved using CCTV footage. The court accepted the plea and granted a five-day physical remand for further investigation.

In a related development, the Korangi Industrial Area Police presented seven more accused - identified as Shamim, Muhammad Hassan, Saghar Shah, Hamza, Waqar Younis, Shahzad, and Muhammad Amin - before the same court in connection with another attack on a foreign fast food outlet.

The court asked the IO if these were the only suspects identified from a crowd of a thousand. The IO responded that the investigation had only recently been assigned to him and that further review of CCTV footage would follow. The court subsequently sent the suspects to jail on judicial remand. A case has been registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station.

Meanwhile, the Additional District and Sessions Judge for District East granted bail to a suspect in a fatal road accident case on Sharae Faisal. The court approved the bail application of Aniq, who was previously on judicial remand in connection with the deaths of a man and his wife in the road crash. The court ordered Aniq's release against a surety bond worth Rs100,000.