KOHAT/PESHAWAR: Mujahidullah Afridi, the prime suspect in the murder case of medical student Asma Rani, was given in police custody on 10-day physical remand by a court here on Sunday.

The suspect was brought amid tight security and presented in the court of civil judge-XII Riaz Aslam who granted his 10-day physical remand to the investigation police. Extraordinary security measures were taken all along the way because KDA town police station, where he kept for the night, was at a long distance from the courts located in the city. Earlier, he was brought to Kohat from Islamabad airport on Saturday.

Irfan, brother of Asma Rani, had appealed to the government to transfer the case to Peshawar, contending that the uncle of Mujahidullah was a lawyer and with the backing of his colleagues he might influence the case. However, it has been decided that the case would be heard in Kohat.

Mujahidullah was later presented before the media at a press conference at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, Peshawar.

On the occasion, district police officer, Kohat, Abbas Majeed Marwat said that the prime suspect in the murder of a medical student had made all arrangements to escape before killing her.

The DPO said the alleged killer was brought from Dubai with the help of Interpol on Saturday. He said that on the indication of one of the accused, police had already recovered the two pistols and the vehicle used in the crime. “The police sent the pistols and empties recovered from the spot to the forensic laboratory and the report was found positive,” said Mr Marwat.

He said the KP police were in contact with the FIA and Interpol since the occurrence of the incident. He said that after killing the student the accused first fled to Saudi Arabia and the KP police informed the Saudi authorities through Interpol. The DPO said the accused then left Saudi Arabia and fled to Dubai after sometime.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2018