KARACHI: Three policemen, booked and arrested for murdering a young man, were remanded in police custody for five days by the administrative judge of the antiterrorism courts on Wednesday.

Constables Shehryar, Faisal and Nasir of newly formed Shaheen Force had on Tuesday shot dead 26-year-old Amir Hussain in Gulistan-i-Jauhar after a chase because the victim did not stop his motorbike when they signalled him to stop.

The Sharea Faisal police have registered a case against them under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 on the complaint of victim’s mother Kareema.

She stated that her son was on his way to bring medicines for his ailing father. He was riding a motorbike when policemen indicated him to stop. However, he did not stop and reached inside an apartment complex called Noman Avenue. He got off the bike and was on his way to his parents’ home when the policemen, who were chasing him, shot him twice. He fell on the stairs and died on the spot

According to East-Zone DIG Muquddus Haider, an inquiry carried out by senior police officers proved that the victim was an innocent citizen who was gunned down by Shaheen Force personnel.

On Wednesday, the investigating officer produced the detained policemen before the administrative judge and sought their custody for questioning.

The IO submitted that although the suspects claimed to have killed a robber during a shootout but it turned out to be false as the police obtained CCTV footage of the incident.

The judge remanded the suspects in police custody for five days and directed the IO to produce them again in court after expiry of their remand along with a progress report.

Sources said that Constable Shehryar disclosed that he shot the victim twice.

The funeral prayers for victim Amir was held in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block-10. His relatives, a large number of area people and political leaders attended his last rites. City chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Hafiz Naeemur Rehman led the funeral prayer.

The victim was laid to rest in Dalmia graveyard amid moving scenes.

The victim’s brother told the media that Shaheen Force killed his brother under a plan. He said his brother got married around 14 months ago.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2022