KARACHI: The prime suspect in the alleged murder of 23-year-old Mustafa Amir was remanded in police custody after the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday set aside an impugned order of an administrative judge of the anti-terrorism court (ATC), who had earlier sent the suspect to prison on judicial remand.

Wearing a ski mask and with his hands cuffed, Armaghan was brought before the ATC Judge-II in Clifton in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) under tight security with the SHC’s direction for the subordinate court to pass a fresh order in accordance with law on four cases including kidnapping-for-ransom, attempting murder and possession of illegal weapons.

At the outset of the hearing, he was called to the rostrum on the court’s order. After asking his name and his father’s name, the court inquired how long he had been in judicial custody.

In response, Armaghan informed the court that he had been in judicial custody since Feb10. When asked about his arrest, he claimed that the police had allegedly subjected him to maltreatment.

SHC sets aside ATC’s earlier order to remand Armaghan in judicial custody

During the proceedings, the prosecution team, led by acting Prosecutor-General Muntazir Mehdi, briefed the court about the case.

However, during the hearing, Armaghan suddenly became unconscious and was later laid down on a bench at the back of the courtroom.

At this point, defence counsel Mutee Abbasi requested the court to order a fresh medical examination, stating that Armaghan was “medically unfit”.

The prosecution, however, opposed the defence’s plea, informing the court that before the suspect was produced in the ATC, he had already been presented before the SHC, where his condition was found to be stable. The prosecution further stated that the SHC had verified whether the suspect had been subjected to maltreatment during the hearing.

After hearing both sides, the ATC remanded the suspect in police custody for four days for the recovery of crime weapons, identification of crime scenes and tracing the trail of weapons.

The court directed the jail authorities to hand over the suspect’s custody to the investigating officer (IO), Muhammad Ali.

As the court pronounced its order, the police attempted to wake the suspect by splashing water on his face. Later, they carried him on their shoulders and placed him in the APC before taking him away.

While talking to the reporters outside the courtroom, Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) SSP Anil Haider said their strategy is to present the facts collected during the investigation before the suspects to confront them, which could help gather further evidence.

When asked how Mustafa’s alleged body was transported from Karachi to Balochistan without the suspects or the car being stopped at any checkpoint, SSP Haider stated that the suspects had executed a well-planned strategy.

He explained that the suspects first determined their route and then selected a remote location — an area with little to no traffic or public movement — to set the car on fire.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2025