KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended till March 10 the physical remand of prime suspect Armaghan Qureshi in the Mustafa murder case.

The court also sent his accomplice, Siraz, to prison on judicial remand.

The investigating officer, Muhammad Ali, produced Armaghan, and Shiraz before the ATC Judge-IV at the judicial complex inside the central prison after completing their physical remand.

The police brought in Armaghan, while his counsel Abid Zaman urged the court to direct the IO to submit a progress report on the 15-day physical remand.

On the defence’s plea, the IO submitted Armaghan’s medical report, which the court examined. The court noted that the medical officer had opined: “There are no marks of any violence on the body of the accused.”

Armaghan is being grilled by CTD, FIA and other agencies, IO tells ATC

The IO also submitted the remand papers in court, stating that during interrogation, it was revealed that Armaghan had hurt a girl on January 5 at his house. He added that the girl was later treated at a local hospital. He informed the court that the girl’s statement had been recorded.

The IO requested before the court to extend Armaghan’s physical custody for further interrogation, stating that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other agencies were also questioning the suspect.

He added that he needed to verify his criminal record, as he was an absconder in multiple cases registered at Boat Basin, Darakhshan, and other police stations.

Meanwhile, Armaghan interrupted and informed the court, “I have not changed my clothes for 15 days. I am psychologically not well,” claiming that he was forcibly made to give his thumb impression on a paper the last day.

Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Arain argued that the crime weapon — a stick or an iron rod used by the suspect to attack Mustafa — still needed to be recovered. He further stated that it must also be determined why the suspect first went to Lahore and then to Skardu after the alleged murder and whether any evidence was destroyed in the process.

The prosecutor also informed the court that 64 laptops and imported weapons were recovered from the suspect’s room, adding that “law enforcement agencies are concerned about what was happening in that bungalow”.

However, the defence counsel opposed the prosecution’s request and pleaded for his client to be sent to prison under judicial custody.

The defence argued that neither interim challan has been produced nor permission has been sought to extend the time.

After hearing the arguments, the court remanded the suspect for further six days and directed to IO to produce him at the next hearing.

Shiraz sent to prison

At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Waseem Gul submitted his vakalatnama on behalf of Shiraz.

Thee IO briefly informed the court that a day before he had brought the suspect before the judicial magistrate (South); however, the court had declined his application filed under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code as the suspect did not want to make any statement.

The defence counsel submitted that his client was allegedly pressurised by the police to make a confessional statement. After a brief hearing, the court sent Shiraz to prison in judicial custody.

In its order, the court noted that it is a settled principle of law that if a confessional statement is recorded before the magistrate or the accused refuses to record his confessional statement, the magistrate is bound to send the accused to judicial custody.

The court observed that the magistrate concerned should have sent the suspect to judicial custody instead of referring the matter to this court to decide remand.

Earlier on Monday, the judicial magistrate had denied the IO’s request and noted in its detailed order that while the suspect was sitting in the chamber, he was informed that he was before a first-class magistrate.

He was also informed that he was not bound to make a confessional statement and that any statement he made would be recorded in writing and could be used as evidence against him during the trial.

Quoting the suspect, the order stated that he claimed that prime suspect Armaghan had “brutally” murdered Mustafa Amir in his presence and he was helpless at that time and now being dragged into the case as a co-accused.

The court noted that the suspect claimed that he was pressured to make a confessional statement and he was induced with the promise of a lesser punishment. He also alleged that he was maltreated by police officials at the police station.

After hearing the suspect, the court ruled that the suspect did not want to make any statement; therefore, it declined the IO’s application.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025