KARACHI, April 27: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) transferred on Saturday the case of 21alleged rioters to a magistrate after the police said the offences did not attract the relevant section of anti-terror law.

Police had arrested them for allegedly staging a violent protest near Tariq Road against the arrest of retired Gen Prevez Musharraf on April 19.

On the following day, the police produced the suspects before the ATC, but a prosecutor referred the case to a magistrate saying it did not attract the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The IO filed a report before the ATC on Saturday that the offences did not fall within the ambit of the ATA and the prosecutor also agreed with his opinion. The court sent the matter to a judicial magistrate who sent the suspects to prison on judicial remand.