ISLAMABAD: An anti terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad on Monday extended the physical remand of the prime suspect in Rangers killing case for three days.

ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain took up the application of Islamabad Police seeking seven days physical remand of suspect Mohammad Hashim Abbasi.

As per the prosecution, Abbasi during his earlier remand was sent to identification parade and after completion of the process he was also taken to crime scene by the investigation team. The prosecution sought his week-long custody for conducting his DNA from the Punjab Forensic Science Academy.

The court noted three officials succumbed to the injuries allegedly caused by the road accident and in the view of the sensitivity and the heinousness of the incident, the investigation and the interrogation of the accused is required in detailed manner.”

Subsequently, the court granted his custody to the police for three days. The court directed the police to produce the accused on Dec 26. Mr Khan, Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Omar Ayub, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Salman Akram Raja, Murad Saeed, Zulfi Bukhari, Hammad Azhar, Raoof Hassan and other leadership have been nominated in the FIR.

The case registered at the Ramna police station under Section 302 (murder), Section 324 (murder attempt) Section 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), Section 114 (abettor present when offence is committed), and other sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, besides terrorism charges.

The FIR alleged that Mr Khan repeatedly issued instructions to the party leadership, his spouse Bushra Bibi, Gandapur and his sister Aleema Khan for making all out efforts to get him released from jail and they could set anything on fire or kill anyone for this purpose.

The FIR claimed that some prisoners, menial workers and secret police staff deployed inside the jail premises is privy to this fact.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024