KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Tuesday extended the physical remand of two suspects in police custody in connection with the death of a woman, whose body was recovered from waters at Seaview.

The body of Sara Malik, a 23-year-old employee at a veterinary hospital in DHA, was found on Nov 8, 2022, near Farhan Shaheed Park at Seaview.

Shan Saleem, owner of the hospital, and his business partner, Waqas, were arrested on the suspicion of their involvement in her murder.

On Tuesday, the investigating officer (IO) produced both the detained suspects before the judicial magistrate (South) upon expiry of their physical remand in police custody and pleaded to extend the same since the investigation was still incomplete.

He stated that the police had not received the victim’s final post-mortem report yet, which would determine the exact cause of her death.

Suspect Waqas’ counsel Khawaja Naveed Ahmed opposed the IO’s plea for an extension in their police remand and requested the magistrate to remand them in judicial custody.

Granting the IO’s request, the magistrate extended the physical remand of the suspects in police custody by two days, directing the IO to produce them on the next date along with an investigation report.

A case was registered against three persons under Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of the victim’s father. Later, Section 302 (premeditated murder) was added.

According to the police, the victim’s mobile phone was recovered from Waqas, a third suspect, who allegedly tried to hide it to delete evidence. They claimed that there were visible signs of torture on her eyes and nose.

The police said the victim had been working in the vet hospital for the past two years and was said to have developed relations with the owner.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2023