ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The judicial magistrate, Jehangir Mir, extended the physical remand of a former NWFP minister for four more days on Monday.

The former provincial minister, Naqibullah Khan, was arrested early this month while allegedly fleeing to the NWFP after stealing a car from Islamabad.

The police claimed that they had recovered four stolen vehicles from the former minister’s custody.

On the last date of hearing, Mr Naqibullah claimed that he had been badly tortured by the anti-car lifting cell of Islamabad police.

The former minister had further complained that he was not allowed to sleep for four nights and was subjected to severe mental torture. He said Gul Mohammad, stated to be a relative of the DSP, owed him Rs1.1 million for long, and despite several reminders, did not return his money.

He contended that he had made it clear to Gul Mohammad that if he did not return his money, he would take away his car.

The police had arrested him while he was taking away Gul Mohammad’s vehicle.

He insisted that he was never involved in car-lifting and that all allegations against him were false.

Mr Naqibullah claimed that the police wanted him to confess to all car thefts reported in Islamabad during the past several years.

He said the police had not recovered any vehicle from his possession.

The prosecution claimed that he was involved in car-lifting and that it needed more time for interrogating the accused. The defence, however, opposed this claim.

The prosecution, while seeking extension in the physical remand of the accused, contended that it needed more time to gather information about the stolen vehicles. It also contended that it would recover more lifted cars from the custody of the accused and his accomplices. The court entertained the plaint.