KARACHI: An antiterrorism court (ATC) on Friday remanded two suspects, said to be associated with Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in police custody in a case pertaining to possessing illicit weapons and explosives.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case brought suspects Sheikh Mohammad Ayub, alias Ayub Ansari and Ahsan Raza before the ATC judge in Clifton.

The IO requested the judge to grant their 14-day police remand for further interrogation. However, the court remanded them in police custody until Wednesday and directed the IO to submit a progress report on the next date.

A case was registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station against them under Sections 23(1) of the Sindh Arms Act 2013, 4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

The police had claimed that suspect Ayub was originally an Indian national who came to Karachi in 1998 and was living in Pakistan illegally after hiding his identity.

He had come to the city on a visit visa from Mumbai and got a Pakistani passport and CNIC illegally, they added.

Suspect Ayub used to carry out recce of targets in order to carry out targeted killings, the police said.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2024