SHC allows physical remand of accused in Mustafa Amir murder case
Pakistan
Statement of victim's mother was recorded during police investigation
SHC suspends verdict of ATC and orders police to present accused in relevant court
State counsel says one-month physical remand of accused was denied by ATC
Police earlier said the murder was an outcome of dispute between two friends
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday accepted the request for physical remand of accused Armaghan, who was arrested in the murder case of young Mustafa Amir.
The SHC suspended the verdict of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and ordered police to present the accused in the ATC forthwith.
The hearing began with the court inquiring about the custody of the accused.
In response, the additional prosecutor general read out the FIR regarding the kidnap of Mustafa. The APG stated that Mustafa was kidnapped on Jan 6.
MOTHER'S STATEMENT
During the investigation, the statement of the victim's mother was recorded. She revealed that she had received a call for Rs20 million ransom. After the call, the investigation of the case was transferred to the Anti Violent Crime Cell (AVCC).
A team of police on Feb 8 conducted a raid at a bungalow in Defence after receiving information about the presence of the accused.
CASE HEARING
The court asked the government lawyer which officer from the CIA was investigating the case.
The government lawyer replied that Inspector Amir from the CIA was the investigating officer. The operation was conducted at 4:40pm and continued until 9pm during which the accused fired at the police party, he said.
The SHC asked which weapon was recovered from the accused's house.
The lawyer stated that a separate FIR was registered for the weapon recovery.
Read more: Police say contention over girl led to murder of karachi youngster
Earlier, he said, Armaghan was presented in an anti-terrorism court on Feb 10. He was brought for physical remand for his alleged involvement in three cases.
The lawyer further informed the court that the accused's firing had injured two policemen. They had requested a one-month physical remand, which was not granted. The accused was found in possession of the victim's mobile phone, and it was revealed that there were five previous cases against him, he said.
The court remarked that the physical remand was not granted due to alleged torture of Armaghan by police. The court asked if there was any evidence of torture. Accused Armaghan claimed that he had been tortured, and the court ordered an inspection to check for any signs of abuse on his body.
When the accused lifted his shirt, no marks were found.
However, Armaghan stated that the torture had occurred on the lower part of his body.
After the hearing the court allowed the physical remand of Armaghan.
BONE-CHILLING DETAILS OF CASE
Young Mustafa Amir's gruesome killing cast a pall of gloom in his home as police launched investigation in the case. Police said the murder was an outcome of a dispute between two friends.
Sheraz, one of the suspects police earlier apprehended, claimed that Armaghan killed the teenager to settle personal score. There were also reports that a girl was involved in the gruesome murder of 24-year-old Mustafa.
Armaghan called Mustafa to his home on some pretext on Jan 6 and thrashed him with an iron rod for three hours. He later put him in his car trunk and drove towards Hub, Balochistan, police quoted Sheraz as having said.
The youngster's mother, Wajeeha Amir, complained to the Darakhshan police and faced a great deal of difficulty in having a case registered. She suspected Armaghan's involvement in the case. She also reveived call for ransom from an American number.
Police converted the case into kidnap for ransom and launched investigation. Police finally found the charred body of Mustafa in Hub more than a month after he went missing from Karachi's Defence area.
CIA DIG'S PRESSER
On Friday, CIA DIG Muqaddas Haider said in a presser that police had found Mustafa’s dead body from Hub Chowki as he was taken there by his vehicle on Jan 6. Suspect Armaghan set the vehicle on fire after locking Mustafa in the trunk.
Haider said the boy’s charred body was found in the vehicle trunk.
Earlier, a police team conducted an operation at the house of Armaghan in Defence Phase 5 and found bullet marks in a room and blood stains on the carpet.
He said sample of kidnapped Mustafa’s mother was sent to laboratory for DNA matching with the blood found at the house of Armaghan. The report later confirmed it was Mustafa's blood.
Police alleged that Armaghan also opened fire on a team which raided his house as a result of which a DSP and another official were injured.
The equipment found in suspect’s house showed he ran a call centre, said police.
