Ishq-e-Rasool Day riots: ATC remands 63 people arrested on multiple charges

Five police stations present suspects to court, including those charged with burning cinemas.

KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorism Court III has granted remand to over 63 people accused in the rioting in Karachi on Friday.

Five separate cases were filed at a number of police stations. The Civil Lines police station presented four suspects for the attack on police mobiles, the Nabi Buksh police station presented eight suspects who they believe attacked the two cinemas on MA Jinnah Road and the Sindh Bank branch, the Boat Basin police station presented 22 suspects who they claim attacked cars and property, the Preedy police station held 13 suspects responsible for the attack on Bambino cinema, and the Kharadar police station had another 16 suspects on charges of rioting and attacking the police.

The FIR includes offences of attempted murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servants from working, assaulting public servants, dacoity, causing mischief by fire and explosive substances, and causing hurt.

Initially, the Anti-Terrorism Court stated that the cases did not fall into its ambit because they were of unlawful assembly. The special public prosecutor, however, stated that the suspects had engaged in arson, rioting and attacking public property, which classifies them as terrorism cases. The court granted remand of the suspects to the police till the middle of next week.