The case of the police encounter at a Gizri bungalow on Saturday evening has taken a new turn as it has come to light that Mustafa Amir was likely killed during his abduction.
Recovering Amir alive or his body if he was killed has now become a significant challenge for the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC). Based on the ongoing investigation and the circumstantial evidence, police have confirmed that Armaghan was involved in Amir’s disappearance.
However, the question remains if Armaghan actually murdered Amir. Armaghan initially admitted to the murder, but later denied it. The investigation has faced significant obstacles as the court did not grant police remand for Armaghan, making it much harder for the AVCC to move the investigation forward.
Criminal Investigation Agency DIG Muqaddas Haider told The News that firstly, Amir’s mobile phone was found during the search of the Gizri bungalow after the encounter; secondly, Armaghan’s servants confirmed seeing Amir and his car at the bungalow; and thirdly, the servants also verified that Armaghan had instructed them to clean up blood at the bungalow.
Haider said that these circumstantial pieces of evidence confirm that Armaghan was involved in the disappearance, but forensic tests are being conducted on the blood traces to determine if they belong to Amir, and to understand how the blood ended up there. When asked if Armaghan is mentally ill, the officer dismissed the idea, saying that it is impossible. He argued that it is unthinkable for someone with a mental illness to engage in hours of gunfire with police and handle an organised system.
Regarding the large quantity of drugs reportedly found at Armaghan’s house, Haider clarified that no drugs were recovered; however, sophisticated and expensive weapons were found in large quantities, and are valued at around Rs20 million, including a rifle worth about Rs3.5 million.
When questioned about Armaghan’s involvement in running a call centre, the DIG said the presence of laptops and other equipment clearly indicate Armaghan was operating an organised call centre.
It is important to note that Amir and Armaghan were friends, and Amir had been kidnapped on January 6 from the Darakhshan police jurisdiction. This was the same day Amir was scheduled to appear in court, as he had been arrested earlier by the Anti-Narcotics Force in a drugs case.
Some reports suggest that there was a financial dispute between the two men related to drugs. However, DIG Haider emphasised that it is still too early to comment on the exact nature of their dispute. He also confirmed that Amir’s family had received a ransom call demanding Rs20 million, but he claimed that this call was likely made to distract the family. The suspect was presented in court by the AVCC police, who had sought his remand. However, the court did not grant police remand, causing a significant disruption in the ongoing investigation.
When the AVCC had raided Armaghan’s bungalow in Gizri on Saturday evening, they faced severe resistance. During the encounter, a DSP and a constable from the AVCC were injured due to Armaghan’s gunfire. After a four-hour stand-off, police successfully apprehended the suspect, and cases were filed against him. After police arrested the suspect, they were granted only a day’s remand. When police requested more time to interrogate him about the statements of the abducted Amir, the court sent him to jail custody.
As a result, police were unable to carry out further investigation, and the crucial question of whether Amir is alive or dead continues to remain unanswered. At a press conference, Amir’s parents shared their distress with the media. They explained that their son had left home in his car on January 6 and never returned.
After searching for him, they reported the incident at the Darakhshan police station, but their complaint was initially ignored. After considerable effort, police registered the case. Armaghan was contacted after four days, and his suspicious statements raised doubts. Following their communication, a ransom call came from an international number. The family immediately informed police, but no action was taken.
Despite providing police with evidence such as call detail records, location data, voice notes and chat messages, police failed to take action. For over a month the family has had no information about their son. They expressed frustration over the “significant failure and incompetence of police”.
The family also questioned why Armaghan was sent to jail instead of being interrogated further after a raid at his house. They asked why a medical examinations was not conducted if Armaghan was under the influence of drugs during the investigation. The parents mentioned that they had met with senior police officials and other relevant authorities to share all the details with them, yet police have made no progress in the case. They expressed deep sorrow, as they still do not know if their son is alive or dead.