KARACHI: As many as 20 Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) workers, including a former MNA and MPA, were on Wednesday sent to prison on judicial remand in a terrorism case for staging an alleged violent rally at Banaras Chowk on Aug 24.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case produced the 20 PTI workers before the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts at the judicial complex inside the central prison after the completion of their initial remand.

Speaking to Dawn, defence counsel Nazirullah Mehsud said that the IO had submitted medical reports in court regarding the alleged maltreatment of the suspects at the hands of police. He added that the IO had not sought further police custody.

After hearing both sides, the court sent thesuspects to prison on judicial remand and directed the IO to submit the investigation report within the stipulated period.

Complainant Inspector Anees Ahmed Shaikh stated in the FIR that he was on patrolling on Aug 24 when he came to know that PTI leader Saeed Afridi was planning a `violent protest` at Banaras Chowk against the `military operations` in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically in Bajaur.

He added that at around 4:20pm, Advocate Attaullah and Afridi, along with over 100 men `armed with sticks and batons`, reached Banaras Chowk and raised provocative slogans against the state and its institutions.

The FIR claimed that the protest was held without permission and when the police tried to stop the protestors, the `charged` mob began `rioting` and `pelting` stones at police personnel.