KARACHI: A local court on Saturday granted bail to six traders arrested for alleged violence and reopening of shops in violation of the lockdown imposed by the Sindh government in the wake of spread of coronavirus in the metropolis.

Police had booked and detained president of the All City Traders Alliance Hammad Poonawala, Mohammad Javed Qureshi, Mohammad Faisal Hassan Zai, Malik Aqeel Shiraz, Mohammad Ahsan and Mohammad Javed along with some unknown traders and shopkeepers for allegedly violating lockdown, inciting violence and risking public’s lives during the pandemic on April 22.

A day go, the detained traders had jointly moved a bail application after their similar pleas were turned down by a judicial magistrate, who had remanded them in judicial custody and did not grant the investigating officer’s request to remand them in police custody for interrogation.

On Saturday, judicial magistrate (South) Mahrukh Rasheed Nizamani pronounced order on the bail pleas of the traders after hearing arguments from the state prosecutor and the defence counsel.

The judge granted post-arrest bail against a surety of Rs150,000 to each applicant.

The court also ordered their release from prison, if their custody was not required in any other case.

According to the prosecution, some traders and shopkeepers forcibly tried to reopen their shops and warehouses in the city’s iron and steel market on April 22 in alleged violation of the provincial government’s ban to prevent spread of coronavirus.

It further mentioned that Mr Poonawala and other traders were ‘inciting’ their fellow shopkeepers in the city to reopen their shops and warehouses, adding that when the police reminded them that it was a violation of the government’s ban some unknown men started chanting slogans and attacked the policemen with batons on instigation of their leaders.

Subsequently, six traders were arrested and booked along with some unknown persons in a case registered under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code on behalf of the state at the Napier police station.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2020