A special judicial magistrate (South) on Sunday handed over 30 Jamaat-e-Islami workers to police on one-day physical remand in a case registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The workers face charges of arson, damaging public and private property, and rioting. JI Karachi Vice Amir and KMC Opposition Leader Advocate Saifuddin, along with other lawyers and party leaders, appeared before the court during the hearing.

Prosecution told the court that the accused were booked for torching property and creating unrest, with terrorism clauses included in the FIR. The magistrate remanded them to police custody for further investigation.

Saifuddin Advocate strongly criticised the Sindh government for slapping terrorism charges on JI’s peaceful workers, who were arrested during a protest outside the Sindh Assembly.

Speaking to media at City Courts on Sunday, he said: “It is shameful that terrorism clauses were added to the FIR, while the real terrorism is being carried out by the provincial government itself,” he remarked.

According to JI, police used excessive force, including baton charge and heavy shelling, leaving four workers seriously injured. Shelling was also reported at two mosques, one of which caught fire. A firefighter was badly hurt when targeted while trying to extinguish the blaze.

Over 300 booked

A case had been registered at Aram Bagh police station on Sunday against a Jamaat-e-Islami sit-in held outside the Sindh Assembly on Saturday, naming 34 individuals and 325 unidentified participants.

The FIR includes charges of rioting, attempted murder, assault on police, damage to government property, road blockage, obstruction of official duty, violation of Section 144, and provisions of anti-terrorism laws.