HYDERABAD, Oct 28: Justice Moosa K. Laghari of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Friday granted bail before arrest to eight people, including Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Bux Magsi and vice-chairman Haider Shahani, for Rs50,000 each in a case registered against them at the Bhittai Nagar police station.

The case pertained to an election-related incident that allegedly took place on Aug 25 at the Government Primary School, Bhittai Town polling station. The eight were accused of resorting to acts of terrorism, creating disturbance at the polling station by forming an unlawful assembly, firing and preventing police officers from discharging their duties. They had also allegedly desecrated the country’s flag.

The case had initially been sent to the Anti-Terrorism Court. However, later sections 6 and 7 of the ATC act as well as charges of desecration of the country’s flag were deleted and the ATC judge was accordingly informed and requested to return the two FIRs as the case could be trialled by the sessions court.

The next date of hearing has been fixed at Nov 15.