KARACHI, Aug 20: The administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts in Karachi on Saturday remanded two suspects in judicial custody in a case pertaining to an arson attack on a minibus in which four passengers were burnt alive.

The suspects — Khanzada and Mohammad Shafi — said to be activists of a political party, along with over a dozen absconding men have been booked for allegedly setting a minibus on fire on the night of Aug 12 in Keamari. Four people were burnt alive and three injured in the incident. The suspects were arrested and were remanded in police custody the next day for one week.

The police produced the suspects before the administrative judge of the ATC, Justice Maqbool Baqar of the Sindh high court, who sent them to prison on judicial remand till Aug 27.

The court directed the investigation officer of the case to submit a charge-sheet on the next date.

According to the prosecution, a minibus of route W-11was set on fire in Keamari on the eve of a strike called by nationalist parties in Sindh against the restoration of the local government system of 2001 in the province. The minibus, carrying a reasonable number of passengers, was attacked by 16 to 17 armed men on the night of Aug 12 when it reached near Humayun Centre, they sprinkled petrol on the vehicle and set it ablaze before passengers could get off the bus, it added. The police managed to apprehend two suspects from the spot.

Earlier, the conductor of the minibus had identified both the suspects during his statement recorded under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code by a judicial magistrate.

DJ releases six prisoners

A district and sessions judge has heard complaints of undertrial prisoners during a visit to the District Jail, Malir and ordered the release of six prisoners. District and Sessions Judge (south) Hasan Feroz along with a judicial magistrate visited the prison where around 180 prisoners submitted applications regarding reduction in surety bonds, grant of bail, reduction in sentences and pleading guilty. The judge sent these applications to courts concerned with a direction for their speedy disposal.

A court official said that 2,510 prisoners were presently confined at the Malir district jail. Of them, 2,164 were undertrial, 200 convicted and 146 were Indian fishermen, the official added.

The prisoners complained about faulty fans and suction pumps and non-availability of medicines.

The judge issued directions to the jail authorities to address the prisoners’ grievances.

Meanwhile, six prisoners, who have served their sentence but languishing in prison for non-payment of fine, were released since a philanthropist paid the fine imposed on them.