KARACHI, Nov 26: A suspected militant, said to be arrested on Sunday in a police encounter, told a court on Monday that he was entrusted with the task of blowing himself up in the Ashura procession on main M.A. Jinnah Road.

The CID police had arrested the suspected militant, Attaullah, on Sunday after a shootout in Manghopir and seized an explosives-laden car. One of his accomplices, Gul Mand, was killed in the encounter.

The suspect was produced before the court of a judicial magistrate for remand in cases relating to keeping explosives, illicit weapons and the police encounter.

Upon a query of the court, the suspect said that he was a resident of Korangi and his accomplice planned to hit the explosives-laden vehicle into the containers placed on M.A. Jinnah Road. He said that he was tasked to blow himself up in the main procession a few minutes after the first blast.

Judicial Magistrate (west) Afzal Roshan remanded the suspect in CID police custody for 10 days and directed the investigation officers to produce him on the next hearing. He was booked in three cases under Sections 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 13-D of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 and 4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act.—Staff Reporter