KARACHI, Aug 18: Physical remand of around 30 suspects was extended till Aug 21 by various judicial magistrates at the city courts on Thursday. They were arrested from different parts of the city on Aug 13 and booked for rioting and causing damage to properties during a strike called by Sindhi nationalist parties that day against the restoration of local government system 2001 in the province.

The police and Rangers had picked up the suspects within the remits of the Preedy, Eidgah, Pirabad, Baldia, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Aram Bagh and Darakhshan police stations. Their remand in police custody was obtained the following day.

Upon the expiry of their remand, the suspects were produced in the courts of the judicial magistrates concerned on Thursday. The police sought extension in their remand.

The cases were registered under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage etc.) 324 (attempt to commit premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of Pakistan Penal Code.

Four acquitted

A special court for Control of Narcotic Substances (CNS) on Thursday acquitted four men in a case pertaining to possession of narcotics.

CNS judge Sanaullah Ghoury pronounced the verdict after hearing both sides.

Naeem Sindhi, Mohammad Arshad, Danish and Noshad were arrested by the Rangers from Liaquatabad area in March 2011 after over 150 grams of hashish each was allegedly recovered from their possessions.

Later, the suspects were handed over to the police and a case (FIR No.45/11) was registered against them under Section 9-B of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act at the Super Market police station.

In its verdict, the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to produce any solid evidence against the accused.

Warrants for policemen

A judicial magistrate on Thursday issued warrants for the arrest of three policemen for not appearing in the court to testify in an illicit weapon possession case.

The CID police had arrested Mohammad Azeem in October 2010 for allegedly possessing unlicensed pistol. He was booked in a case (FIR No.136/10) under Section 13-D of the Arms Ordinance.

However, the prosecution witnesses in the case, SI Shaukat Ali, ASI Abdullah and head-constable Mohammad Yaseen, have not been appearing in the court to record their testimonies despite repeated notices and remainders issued by the court since long.