GUJRAT: A Gujranwala Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday extended the physical remand of Naveed Basheer, the suspect involved in the gun attack on PTI chairman Imran Khan, for another 13 days.

The suspect was produced in the court by the police under tight security after completion of his 13-day remand granted earlier by the court. He will again be produced before the Gujranwala ATC on Dec 12.

Meanwhile, at least four members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) spent a busy day at Wazirabad on Tuesday. It was the fourth visit by the JIT to the city, where they inspected the crime scene.

The JIT also brought the suspect to the crime scene and took him to a nearby compound from where he had been arrested soon after the attack.

As per legal procedure, the JIT on Tuesday announced the formal recovery of the weapon (a 30 bore pistol), used in the attack, from the compound of Haveli Abid near Allah Wala Chowk on the GT Road.

Anwar Hussain Shah, Director Vigilance, who is a member of the JIT, stated in the case FIR that the suspect had revealed during the interrogation that he had concealed the weapon used in the incident under wooden plaques in a nearby compound, where he had tried to hide soon after the attack.

The JIT members, including the complainant, SP Malik Tariq Mehboob, SP Ehsanullah Chohan and SP Naseebullah Khan, brought the suspect, surrounded by a police contingent and Elite Force commandos, for the identification of the place and recovery of the weapon.

Mr Shah said in the FIR that the JIT members had recovered the weapon, a locally-made 30 bore pistol, from the place identified by the suspect. The pistol’s magazine was found empty upon the recovery, whereas it had not been registered under any licence or permit.

A fresh case of the weapon’s recovery has been registered against the suspect under the Punjab Arms (amendment) Ordinance 2015-13-2(a) and Punjab Arms Ordinance 1965-20.

The police also produced the suspect in a court at Wazirabad, in the fresh case of weapon’s recovery, that sent him on judicial remand.

An official of local police said the place from where the weapon was recovered was known as Haveli Abid, and the JIT members also recorded the statement of its owner, Abid Cheema.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2022