KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Saturday remanded in police custody for three more days the SHO of the Al-Falah police station, who was booked and arrested over hurting two teenage brothers in an alleged encounter.

Sub-Inspector Hidayatullah, along with three absconding constables – Saqib Mehmood, Junaid Ali and Owais Ahmed – has been booked for allegedly attempting to murder 14-year-old Faheem and his 16-year-old brother, Noor Muhammad, in a fake encounter on July 27.

On Saturday, the investigating officer (IO) produced the held SHO before the judicial magistrate (East) on expiry of his two-day physical remand and sought an extension for further interrogation to complete the investigation.

While granting the request, the magistrate remanded the SHO in police custody for three days, directing the IO to produce him on the next date and also submit an investigation report.

According to the complainant Pervaiz Ahmed, the two brothers had arrived from Balochistan to stay with him for some days. They left their place at night for eating something outside on July 27 when the three constables, on orders from their SHO, shot at and wounded them in a fake shootout, he stated.

He said that the policemen had alleged that the duo were going on a motorcycle and when they were signalled to stop, both had opened fire on them with an intention to kill them.

Currently, SHO Hidayatullah is on police remand, while his three subordinates are still absconding, allegedly to avoid their arrest.

A case was registered under the sections 324 (attempted murder), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Al-Falah police station.

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023