ATC extends Armaghan’s remand in Mustafa Amir murder case for fifth time

An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended for the fifth time the police remand of the prime suspect in the Mustafa Amir abduction and murder case.

Armaghan has been in police custody for one month now as he was first handed over to the police on physical remand on February 18 following the Sindh High Court's order. On Tuesday, investigating officer Muhammad Ali presented the suspect before the ATC-IV judge on the completion of his remand and sought his custody for seven more days.

The remand report submitted by the IO before the judge seemed to be almost identical to the previous one, with only a few lines changed. He informed the judge that the suspect's mobile phone, laptop, and USB had been sent to Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) Lahore for a forensic analysis. He disclosed that Armaghan recorded his confessional statement before the Anti-Violent Crime Cell SSP under Section 21-H of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

During interrogation, the suspect further confessed that after murdering Mustafa Amir, he informed his father, Kamran Ashgar, about the entire incident, the IO said, adding that his father advised him to flee Karachi and go into hiding.

He said that following this advice, the suspect, along with his accomplice Shiraz, remained in hiding in Lahore, Islamabad, and Skardu. In light of this statement, the suspect’s father, Kamran Qureshi, also needed to be interrogated, he added.

He said that Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Federal Investigation Agency were also interrogating the suspect while he had been questioned by the Anti-Narcotics Force. He said that a committee formed by high-ups was also interrogating the suspect. Armaghan's lawyer Tahir ur Rehman Tanoli opposed the police's request for extension of his client's physical remand.

In his written order, the judge noted that Armaghan complained of maltreatment at the hands of the police and ordered his medical examination by the medical superintendent of any government hospital with the report to be submitted in three days.

He said that Advocate Khurram Abbas intended to file his Vakalatnama on behalf of Armaghan but the suspect did not want to engage another lawyer at the instance of his father.

The suspect also engaged in altercation with his father Kamran, who shouted at him, the judge said, adding that the suspect's mother also pressed his son to engage Khurram Abbas as well but he did not agree.

"After perusing the police remand papers and the request of the IO, the police custody remand of accused Armaghan alias Army for 07 days from 18.03.2025 to 24.03.2025 is granted with direction to complete the investigation," the judge ruled.

Separately, the ATC-XVII judge, who is also the administrative judge of the ATCs, extended Armaghan's physical remand in a case pertaining to shooting and injuring a TV reporter in November last year.

Media persons were barred from entering the judicial complex housing the ATCs, with security staff citing orders from higher authorities. The restriction on journalists' entry came after the special public prosecutor, Zulfiqar Arain, wrote an application to the prosecutor general of Sindh about threats allegedly extended to him by the suspect's father. Interestingly, Kamran was allowed entry in the judicial complex with the court's permission while reporters performing their duty were denied the entry.