KARACHI, July 7: Sixteen persons held for allegedly violating a ban on pillion-riding were produced before judicial magistrates on Thursday.

While 10 of the suspects were released on bail and personal bonds, the remaining six failed to furnish the surety bond and were subsequently sent to prison.

The persons had been arrested in different areas for violating the pillion-riding ban imposed by the government late Tuesday night in the wake of targeted killings.

Six of them were brought before judicial magistrate (west) Mohammad Afzal Roshan, who granted them bail against a surety bond of Rs5,000 each. However, they failed to furnish the surety and were subsequently sent to prison.

Four other persons, who had been arrested within the remit of the Shah Latif Town and Steel Town police stations, were produced before judicial magistrate (Malir) Ashfaq Mughal.

The court released all the four men on personal bonds.

Another six pillion-riders were brought before a judicial magistrate (east), who granted them bail against the surety bond of Rs5,000 each. They had been arrested within the remit of the Brigade police station.

All the 16 suspects had been booked under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.The pillion-riding ban was imposed under Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the criminal procedure code.

Hearing of murder case adjourned An anti-terrorism court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the Sarfraz Shah murder case due to the absence of a defence lawyer till Friday.

Six detained personnel of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh and a private contractor of a park have been charged with the murder of Sarfraz Shah, who was shot at and then left to die inside the park in Clifton on June 8.

When the case came up for hearing before judge of the ATC-I Bashir Ahmed Khoso, who is conducting the trial, one of the defence counsel sent an application stating that he was unable to attend the court due to bad health and sought adjournment.

The court allowed the plea and put off the hearing till Friday for the evidence of witnesses. The prosecution has, so far, examined six witnesses in the case.

The case (FIR No 227/11) was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 36 (effect caused partly by act and partly by omission) and 34 (common intention) of the PPC read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on a complaint of the deceased’s brother at the Boat Basin police station.