Anti-Islam film backlash: 46 men accused of torching cinemas, banks sent to jail
Anti-terrorism courts are hearing dozens of cases related to arson, looting and vandalism.
KARACHI:
The charred buildings of Nishat and Capri cinemas have covered their facades with huge billboards, featuring images of the damage to the historic movie theatres. “Who will take responsibility?” reads one.
Repairs are also underway at the banks that were robbed and gutted near PIDC, as the memory of the riots fades as other, bigger news stories emerge.
But at Anti-Terrorism Court III, 46 men accused of the free-for-all looting, torching and vandalising the properties in Karachi on the Ishq-e-Rasool (pbuh) day were sent to jail on Friday.
On September 21, when the riots broke out, and in raids in the subsequent days, the police had picked up dozens of men on suspicion of taking part in the violence.
While many suspects and their lawyers claim they have been falsely implicated, the police state that they had arrested the arsonists red-handed.
On Friday, investigating officers at the Kharadar, Nabi Bux, Preedy and Civil Lines police stations presented the suspected arsonists in court after their police custody expired.
The Kharadar police had 16 men, the Preedy police 13, eight suspects were detained by the Nabi Bux police and the Civil Lines police had arrested nine.
The suspects also included three juveniles who were transferred to a remand home.
The police stations have been directed to present their reports along with the suspects on October 8, October 10 and October 11.
Another 24 suspects detained by the Jackson police station are scheduled to appear at the Anti-Terrorism Court II on October 8. Two men detained by the Kharadar police this week will remain at the station till October 12.
The arrest of the two men brings the total number of suspects whose cases will be heard to 99.
But how many of the suspected arsonists actually stand trial depends on what the investigating officers state in their final reports.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
The charred buildings of Nishat and Capri cinemas have covered their facades with huge billboards, featuring images of the damage to the historic movie theatres. “Who will take responsibility?” reads one.
Repairs are also underway at the banks that were robbed and gutted near PIDC, as the memory of the riots fades as other, bigger news stories emerge.
But at Anti-Terrorism Court III, 46 men accused of the free-for-all looting, torching and vandalising the properties in Karachi on the Ishq-e-Rasool (pbuh) day were sent to jail on Friday.
On September 21, when the riots broke out, and in raids in the subsequent days, the police had picked up dozens of men on suspicion of taking part in the violence.
While many suspects and their lawyers claim they have been falsely implicated, the police state that they had arrested the arsonists red-handed.
On Friday, investigating officers at the Kharadar, Nabi Bux, Preedy and Civil Lines police stations presented the suspected arsonists in court after their police custody expired.
The Kharadar police had 16 men, the Preedy police 13, eight suspects were detained by the Nabi Bux police and the Civil Lines police had arrested nine.
The suspects also included three juveniles who were transferred to a remand home.
The police stations have been directed to present their reports along with the suspects on October 8, October 10 and October 11.
Another 24 suspects detained by the Jackson police station are scheduled to appear at the Anti-Terrorism Court II on October 8. Two men detained by the Kharadar police this week will remain at the station till October 12.
The arrest of the two men brings the total number of suspects whose cases will be heard to 99.
But how many of the suspected arsonists actually stand trial depends on what the investigating officers state in their final reports.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.