KARACHI: An antiterrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday remanded two suspects, including the alleged mastermind of a suicide bombing near Karachi airport that killed two Chinese nationals and a Pakistani citizen, in police custody for 10 days.

On Tuesday, suspects Javed and his female aide, Gul Nisa, said to be associated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), were brought to the ATC court in Clifton in a armoured personnel carrier (APC) amid tight security.

At the outset of the remand proceedings, the investigating officer (IO) of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) submitted a report and stated that three persons were killed and at least 11 others were injured in the suicide attack near Jinnah International Airport last month.

The IO informed the court that the two suspects were arrested on a tip-off and during grilling, suspect Javed disclosed that he had conducted reconnaissance at the scene along with an absconding suspect Danish, who was said to be an explosives expert.

Regarding the female suspect, the IO claimed that she had facilitated suicide bomber Shah Fahad by helping him cross the Hub toll plaza.

The IO named BLA commanders Bashir Ahmed, alias Bashir Zeb, and Abdul Rehman, alias Rehman Gul, as alleged planners of the attack.

He requested the court to order formation of joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct further inquiries with the suspects and sought one-month remand to check their criminal records and to apprehend absconding suspects.

After hearing the IO, the court remanded the duo in police custody for 10 days and directed the provincial home department to form a JIT for further investigation into the matter.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024