KARACHI: The administrative judge of antiterrorism courts on Friday extended the physical remand of three brothers in a case pertaining to the rape and murder of a minor girl.

After the end of their last remand, the investigating officer again produced the suspects before the administrative judge and sought extension in their remand on the grounds that the medical examination reports were still awaited. The court granted extension in the physical remand of the suspects till March 11.

Initially, a judicial magistrate had granted a four-day remand, but on March 4, the magistrate observed that the offence came within the ambit of the Anti-Terrorism Act and referred it to the administrative judge of ATCs.

The body of the 10-year-old girl was recovered in the overhead water tank of a building in Railway Colony, Bin Qasim, on Feb 28 and doctors confirmed that she was raped and strangled. The police said that the suspects and the victim were residing in the same building.

A case was lodged on the complaint of the victim’s father at Bin Qasim police station.

Remand of ‘hitmen’ extended

The administrative judge of antiterrorism courts on Thursday extended the physical remand of eight suspected hitmen in a case involving explosives and illicit weapons.

The Rangers claimed to have arrested Rehman alias Haji, Syed Raza Ali alias Soldier, Mohsin Ali alias Shahjee, Qazi Anis Rehman alias Captain, Tanzeem alias Smart Boy, Zamiruddin alias Gold, Syed Waqas Haider, and Shaharyar alias Sherry on Feb 25 and found explosives and weapons in their custody.

The paramilitary force maintained that the detained suspects were target killers and allegedly involved in the recent deadly attacks on offices of the Pak Sarzameen Party and MQM-Pakistan, a low-intensity blast at the MQM-P’s Mehfil-i-Milad in December 2018, and other incidents of targeted killing.

The suspects were operating under the direct supervision of the MQM founder, they added. Later, they were handed over to police.

After the end of their last remand in the explosives and illicit weapons cases, the police again produced them before the administrative judge of ATCs, Karachi, and sought extension of their physical remand for further questioning. The court granted an extension till March 12, and directed the investigating officer to produce them with a progress report at the next hearing.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2019