Was Mustafa Amir burned alive?

The Mustafa Amir murder case investigation has taken another turn following arrested suspect Shiraz Bukhari’s statement, according to which Armaghan fired shots at Amir not with the intent to kill him but to only terrify him.

However, after calling Amir to his house, Armaghan first verbally abused him, then brutally assaulted him with sticks, causing severe injuries to his head and knees, leading to profuse bleeding.

Then with Bukhari’s help, Armaghan forced Amir into his own car and drove him to Balochistan. There they set the vehicle on fire with Amir still inside, raising the question if he was burned alive.

To verify these claims, the authorities have decided to exhume Amir’s body on Friday. A medical board will conduct an autopsy and a chemical analysis to determine if he was still alive at the time the car was torched, and the time and cause of his death.

Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) chief SSP Anil Haider confirmed that the exhumation would provide crucial insights into the case. He said police would take both Bukhari and Armaghan to the crime scene for identification and cross-verification of their statements.

When asked about the revelations made during Bukhari’s interrogation, SSP Haider said: “Most probably, Mustafa Amir was burned alive. However, this can only be confirmed after the medical and chemical examinations following the exhumation.”

He noted that initial reports suggest Amir was shot and then burned inside his vehicle, but forensic tests would be critical in verifying the exact sequence of events. Regarding the murder weapon, he said firearms recovered from Armaghan’s residence are being examined to determine if they are legally owned. Since Armaghan is now in police custody, he will be questioned about his firearm licences. If he presents any, their authenticity will be verified.

Additionally, forensic analysis will be conducted on the rifle allegedly used in the shooting. If Amir was assaulted with sticks or batons, those weapons will also be recovered and sent for forensic examination.

The officer clarified that the call centre previously operated by Armaghan is not relevant to the murder investigation. He said the call centre had already been shut down by Armaghan once he realised police were after him.

Addressing another key aspect of the case, he said: “Yes, he had lion cubs before, but they were not there when we raided his house.” Regarding the ransom call made to Amir’s family, SSP Haider said Armaghan would be questioned about it. This comes after Bukhari claimed he had no knowledge of who made the ransom demand.

The officer also expressed scepticism regarding Amir’s mother’s recent claim that a woman had persuaded Armaghan to invite Amir to his house, where the murder took place, and that it was her influence that led to the killing and the body’s disposal.

He said that given Armaghan’s temperament, he does not believe the suspect would act on a woman’s suggestion. He, however, acknowledged that a woman’s involvement can still be possible, but it does not appear to be the primary reason behind the murder.

Meanwhile, Amir’s mother has expressed concerns over the ongoing investigation. She said she expects Armaghan would attempt to manipulate the details during the investigation. According to her, it is vital to understand the reason why the murder was carried out with such extreme violence. She also said the exposure of the murderers has been a silver lining, adding that while their family has suffered immensely, the fact that the culprits are now behind bars means that no one else would fall victim to their cruelty.