KARACHI: A special anti-terrorist court in Karachi on Monday sent Masoom Billa alias Abu Bakar and Muhammad Muawiya, who were arrested in relation to the bomb blast targeting Sindh High Court's Justice Maqbool Baqar, on judicial remand until August 9.

The two men, associated with the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ), were produced before the court today under strict security.

During the hearing, the court directed the investigation officer to conclude the inquiry at the earliest and produce a charge sheet before it prior to the coming hearing of the case.

Also today, Muawiya told the court that the police had subjected him to torture and had damaged one of his arms.

Justice Baqar, who was the target of the June 26 attack, miraculously survived the bombing. His driver and eight security personnel escorting him died in the attack.

The blast was so powerful that one of the motorcycles of the Rangers personnel flew and landed on the roof of a mosque and the other on the roof of a nearby home.

The explosion blew the car of the justice, police mobiles and two motorcycles of Rangers into pieces. The bomb moreover caused a two feet deep crater on the spot. Windowpanes of homes and shops within the 30-metre area were shattered.

And while all the arrests made in the case have involved members of the LJ, the bombing on the contrary claimed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Opinion

Editorial

Budget for stabilisation
Updated 13 Jun, 2024

Budget for stabilisation

The proposed steps lack any “disruptive policy changes", especially to "right-size" the govt, and doubts remain on authorities' ability to enforce new measures.
State of the economy
13 Jun, 2024

State of the economy

THE current fiscal year is but another year lost. Going by the new Pakistan Economic Survey, which maps the state of...
Unyielding onslaught
Updated 13 Jun, 2024

Unyielding onslaught

SEVEN soldiers paid the ultimate price in Lakki Marwat on Sunday when their vehicle was blown up in an IED attack,...
X diplomacy
Updated 12 Jun, 2024

X diplomacy

Both states can pursue adversarial policies, or come to the negotiating table and frankly discuss all outstanding issues, which can be tackled through dialogue.
Strange decisions
12 Jun, 2024

Strange decisions

THE ECP continues to wade deeper and deeper into controversy. Through its most recent decision, it had granted major...
Interest rate cut
Updated 11 Jun, 2024

Interest rate cut

The decision underscores SBP’s confidence that economic stability is gaining traction.