KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Tuesday sent 12 suspects to prison on judicial remand in a case related to alleged rioting during a Sindhi Culture Day rally, after a sessions court overturned an earlier decision granting police additional physical remand.
The suspects were first arrested on December 7 following clashes near the FTC flyover on Sharea Faisal, where participants of a Sindhi Culture Day rally allegedly violated prohibitory orders imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Police initially booked the suspects — along with hundreds of others — under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). However, on December 8, the administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts removed the ATA section from the FIR and handed the case to a judicial magistrate.
The 12 individuals were granted a one-day physical remand, which expired on Tuesday. Investigating Officer (IO) Inspector Sajid presented them before Judicial Magistrate (South) Zahid Ali and requested an extension, arguing that further interrogation was required.
The police had apprehended the 12 suspects for allegedly violating a ban imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).https://t.co/NRMbtnIIcg
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 10, 2025
Defence lawyers strongly opposed the plea, contending that the case amounted merely to a violation of Section 144. They argued that such an offence is prosecutable only under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), and even then, only on a complaint filed with official authorisation. They urged the magistrate to discharge the suspects under Section 63 of the CrPC.
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Despite these arguments, the magistrate initially extended the suspects’ physical remand by three days. The defence then challenged the order before Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) Irshad Hussain, who suspended the magistrate’s decision and directed him to hear both parties afresh and issue a lawful order.
When the suspects were produced again, defence lawyers reiterated their request for immediate discharge, while the IO and state prosecutor opposed the move and sought continued custody. After hearing arguments from both sides, the magistrate declined to extend the remand and instead ordered the suspects to be sent to prison on judicial remand, instructing the IO to complete the investigation and submit a report.
Following the order, defence lawyers protested inside the courtroom, chanting slogans against the decision. The suspects have since filed post-arrest bail applications before a sessions court.
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