KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday indicted Armaghan Qureshi, along with his alleged accomplice, Sheraz alias Shavez Bukhari, in connection with the January 2025 murder of Mustafa Amir.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons allegedly kidnapped 23-year-old Amir and murdered him at Armaghan’s house in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA). They then placed his body in the trunk of his car and torched it in the Hub area of Balochistan.

On Thursday, Armaghan and Sheraz were brought before the ATC judge-VII, who read out charges against them for committing offences punishable under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 302 (murder), 364-A (kidnapping or abduction for extorting property, valuable security, etc), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred rupees or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the ATA.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the charges. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till March 12, and summoned the prosecution’s witnesses on the next date.

Accused plead not guilty; hearing adjourned to March 12

Meanwhile, a bail application filed by Sheraz was dismissed by the court for non-prosecution, as the accused’s counsel failed to appear for arguments at the scheduled hearing.

At the previous hearing, Armaghan’s mother, through defence counsel Khurram Abbas, filed an application seeking the constitution of a medical board for the treatment of a psychiatric illness of her son.

However, Armaghan unexpectedly challenged both his counsel and the application during the hearing, shouting that he was fine and disowning his lawyer.

In its order, the court noted that Armaghan declared himself to be completely mentally sound and claimed that his lawyer was trying to have him declared insane. However, counsel Khurram told Dawn that the court has not issued any order to constitute a medical board yet, and the matter is still pending for hearing.

A year ago, prime accused Armaghan was apprehended after a police encounter at his house in DHA in which a DSP and a constable were wounded. His accomplice was later arrested.

As per the final police report, CCTV footage obtained from the Rangers during the investigation allegedly shows the suspects travelling from Karachi to Hub in the victim’s car on the day of the incident. While another video purportedly shows them returning to Karachi in a Suzuki pickup.

The report had also included statements made by the accused while in police custody. The prime accused Armaghan had allegedly confessed that he murdered Mustafa after an altercation. He told investigators that he was enraged after Mustafa allegedly mocked him over a private matter.

The co-accused, Sheraz, had also alleged in his statement to the police that Armaghan later contacted Mustafa’s mother and demanded ransom money.

However, both accused denied recording their confessional statements before the magistrate.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026