KARACHI, May 15: Judicial magistrates of south and east on Wednesday granted bail to as many as 30 suspects, including three polling staffers, in vote rigging cases.

Said to be political activists, Muddasir, Danish, Mohammad Iqbal, Rehan, Moshin, Mushtaq, Mustafa, Umair, Mohammad Ali, Shakeel, Ahsan, Syed Ashraf Ali, Zia Abbas and 10 others were arrested on May 11 in different parts of district south for allegedly rigging the poll in NA-249 and NA-250. Ballot papers, stamps and other election material were found in their possession. They were booked at the Darakhshan, Nabi Bux and Boat Basin police stations.

The judicial magistrate (south), Noor Mohammad, granted bail to around 20 suspects against the surety bond of Rs20,000 each and to three suspects against the surety bond of Rs50,000 each as some additional charges of forgery and cheating were added to the list of charges against them.

Meanwhile, judicial magistrate (east) Hafiz-ur-Rehman also granted bail to nine suspects, including three polling staff, against the surety of Rs20,000 each.

Police said that presiding officer Arif Hussain, assistant presiding officers Farhan Ali and Mohammad Adil Khan and suspects Dr Aziz-ul-Haq, Umair Khan, Jameel, Khalid, Sajid Ali and Azeem Ahmed were caught red-handed rigging the elections at the polling station No 104 of NA-251 constituency.

Cases were registered under Sections 171-F (undue influence or personation at an election), 419 (cheating by personation), 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Two robbers jailed

A sessions court sentenced on Wednesday two robbers to three years imprisonment.

The court found Wasiq and Ibrahim guilty of robbing Abdul Wahab and his friends of cash and valuables in March last year in the Sachal area. However, co-accused Mohammad Jameel was acquitted for want of evidence against him.

District and sessions judge (Malir) Mohammad Yamin also imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each and in case of non-payment of the fine the convicts would have to undergo an additional three-month imprisonment.

A case was registered under Sections 392 (punishment for robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Two Afghans convicted

The same court sentenced two Afghan immigrants to three-month imprisonment for their illegal stay in Pakistan.

Ahmed Shakeel and Sher Ahmed were found guilty of unlawfully entering and staying in Pakistan.

The Federal Investigation Agency arrested the accused on Feb 20 on the airport premises after they failed to furnish the required documents to justify their stay.

The court imposed a fine of Rs10,000 each, and in case of default, they would have to spend an additional one-month in prison.

The judge also asked the jail authorities to make arrangements through the home department for their deportation after the completion of their sentence. They were booked under the Foreigners’ Act.