120 leaders and activists of the Sindh Action Committee (SAC) who were arrested for allegedly ransacking and setting fire to private properties in Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) while protesting against the company on Sunday have been remanded into judicial custody by an anti-terrorism court.
The court issued the orders on Wednesday.
Protestors were booked by the police on charges of torching restaurants, shops, vehicles and looting money from automated teller machines (ATMs) after the protest held on Sunday. They were produced before the ATC by the investigation officer after they physical remand in police custody was expired on Wednesday. The authorities then requested the ATC judge to extend the remand by 14 days for the purpose of interrogation and investigation.
While the request was denied, the judge remanded them in judicial custody. He also asked the investigating official to produce the arrested individuals before the court on the next date along with an investigation report on the matter.
Backstory
Bahria Town Karachi has time and again used force against residents of Goths whose land is forcibly taken by the real estate company.
In the latest instance of the same in May, Bahria Town personnel resorted to attacking villagers in Malir in an attempt to occupy their land. It was reported that Bahria Town officials opened ‘straight fire’ on the villagers due to which two of them were injured.
Karachi Bachao Tehreek, a campaign against demolition of working class settlements, had then called on the authorities to act against the perpetrators. They also said that police were working alongside the land grabbers who are beating up the villagers.
Earlier that month, a resident of Malir had told Naya Daur Media that Bahria Town officials came with their machinery to occupy 24 acre of his land and when he protested and tried to resist, he was surrounded by the company’s employees and severely tortured.
The government is said to protect Bahria Town's interests which explains the impunity enjoyed by the company.
The court issued the orders on Wednesday.
Protestors were booked by the police on charges of torching restaurants, shops, vehicles and looting money from automated teller machines (ATMs) after the protest held on Sunday. They were produced before the ATC by the investigation officer after they physical remand in police custody was expired on Wednesday. The authorities then requested the ATC judge to extend the remand by 14 days for the purpose of interrogation and investigation.
While the request was denied, the judge remanded them in judicial custody. He also asked the investigating official to produce the arrested individuals before the court on the next date along with an investigation report on the matter.
Backstory
Bahria Town Karachi has time and again used force against residents of Goths whose land is forcibly taken by the real estate company.
In the latest instance of the same in May, Bahria Town personnel resorted to attacking villagers in Malir in an attempt to occupy their land. It was reported that Bahria Town officials opened ‘straight fire’ on the villagers due to which two of them were injured.
Karachi Bachao Tehreek, a campaign against demolition of working class settlements, had then called on the authorities to act against the perpetrators. They also said that police were working alongside the land grabbers who are beating up the villagers.
Earlier that month, a resident of Malir had told Naya Daur Media that Bahria Town officials came with their machinery to occupy 24 acre of his land and when he protested and tried to resist, he was surrounded by the company’s employees and severely tortured.
The government is said to protect Bahria Town's interests which explains the impunity enjoyed by the company.