KARACHI, Oct 5: An anti-terrorism court remanded on Friday 46 suspects in jail custody in a number of cases pertaining to acts of violence during rallies taken out in protest against an anti-Islam film made in the United States.

The police released one suspect for want of evidence.

The suspects were booked for allegedly torching cinemas, police vans, banks and food outlets, rioting, attacking policemen, looting and destroying public and private property during the Sept 21 rallies within the remit of the Kharadar, the Nabi Bux, the Civil Lines and the Preedy police stations.

On a pervious hearing, the suspects were remanded in police custody and following the expiry of their remand, the investigating officers produced them before an anti-terrorism court.

The judge, Ghulam Mustafa Memon, of the ATC-III sent them to prison on judicial remand till Oct 11 and directed the IOs to file final investigation reports till next hearing.

The Kharadar police detained 16 suspects, the Nabi Bux police eight, the Preedy police 13 and the Civil Line police arrested 10 suspects for rioting and damaging vehicles and property near Meriwether Tower, the PIDC roundabout and torching a number of cinemas on and near M.A. Jinnah Road.

The civil line police submitted a report in the court under Section 497 (2) of the criminal procedure code and stated that suspect Dilnawaz was released since concrete evidence was not found against him.

The cases (FIR Nos. 324/12, 534/ 12, 207/12 and 86/12) were registered against the suspects at the Kharadar, the Preedy, the Nabi Bux and the Civil Line police stations.