PESHAWAR, Feb 21: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday rejected bail applications of 59 people detained here during riots last week. The court presided over by Mr Shahjee Rehman Khan observed that the petitioners did not deserve to be released on bail.

The applicants were arrested by the Gulbahar police on Feb 15 in various parts of the city following riots and protests against the publication of blasphemous cartoons.

The applicants have been nominated in a single FIR wherein they have been charged with setting on fire buses and office of the Daewoo bus company and ransacking properties and buildings.

Several lawyers appeared for the applicants. They contended that the applicants were innocent and falsely implicated in the case. They argued that the buses were set on fire at around 11am whereas most of the applicants were arrested in the afternoon, several hours after the occurrence.

The counsel said that attackers were given a free hand and they escaped from the scene after the occurrence. Later, the counsel added, innocent people were picked up by the police to show efficiency.

Pronouncing the order, the court observed that at such an early stage of the case bail could not be allowed.

The public prosecutor contended that the applicants were involved in heinous nature of crimes. He said the applicants had set on fire 16 buses and some mini-coaches and buildings.

A large number of people, mostly relatives of the applicants, had gathered outside the court. A heavy contingent of police was deputed there to avert any trouble.

BAIL GRANTED: In a separate case, the anti-terrorism court granted bail to five people arrested in connection with riots.