120 remanded in police custody over Bahria Town riot

KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday sent around 120 leaders and activists of the Sindh Action Committee into police custody on physical remand for their alleged involvement in arson and attack at Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) on May 21.

The police produced the suspects before the Anti-Terrorism Court's administrative judge seeking their remand for two weeks, however, the court approved of two days only and sought a progress report regarding investigation on Wednesday (today). The court also ordered medical facilities to the injured suspects. They were all taken into custody after a mob attacked the BTK during a protest demonstration called by Sindh's nationalist parties.

The main gate of BTK, a showroom with several cars and five restaurants were set on fire and several offices and three ATMs were vandalised after a mob attacked the BTK during a demonstration by the SAC outside the gate society.

According to the prosecution in the said case which is registered on behalf of the BTK’s security manager, some nationalist groups including the Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Jeay Sindh and Awami Tehreek staged a demonstration outside the BTK on Sunday. It added that the leaders of the demonstration including Jalal Mehmood Shah, Qadir Magsi, Jan Muhammad Junejo and Sanan Qureshi provoked people to attack the BTK. The case was registered under sections 395 (punishment for dacoity), 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) read with section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Gadap City police station.

Earlier the residents of the Bahria Town Karachi while deploring the attack termed it shocking and painful which has heightened their insecurity.