KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Monday ruled that the alleged crime of a paramilitary soldier’s killing by his colleague came within the ambit of anti-terrorism law and directed police to produce him before an anti-terrorism court for remand.

Rangers sepoy Syed Ali Murtaza was booked for allegedly killing his colleague, Mashooq Ali, with his official rifle after exchanging hot words inside the bachelor barracks of 63 Wing of Bhittai Rangers, KDA-17 Block, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, on Sunday.

When the police produced the suspect before a judicial magistrate (east) and sought his custody for questioning, judicial magistrate Khalid Hussain asked the prosecution to argue on the point of jurisdiction and the prosecutor contended that it was a crime to be tried under the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.

After examining the material placed before the court, the magistrate ruled that the incident had taken place inside the public institution during duty hours and both the victim and suspect were public servants. They were entrusted with the duty to guard public, but this violent act created fear among the public and society, he added.

“Whether general public would allow their children to join forces or will trust in governmental institutions such as Pakistan Army/Air Force/ Rangers, if these acts are not dealt with iron hands and such act amounts to terrorism,” said the court in its order.

While granting one-day transit remand, the magistrate ruled that the offence came within the ambit of the ATA and directed the investigating officer to produce the suspect before the administrative judge of ATCs for remand on Tuesday.

The prosecution said confrontation between the two soldiers triggered when one of them argued with the other over his prolonged stay in the wash room while he was waiting for his turn.

A case was registered against the paramilitary soldier under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Sharea Faisal police station.

ASI sent to prison

An anti-corruption court on Monday remanded an assistant sub-inspector of police to prison in a graft case.

ASI Imran Shah, posted at the special investigation unit of police, was allegedly caught red-handed while taking bribe from a citizen in Azizabad a few days ago, said the Anti-Corruption Establishment informed the court.

After the end of his physical remand, the investigating officer produced the suspect in the anti-corruption court which sent him to prison on judicial remand and asked the IO to submit investigation report.

Published in Dawn October 25th, 2016