An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Tuesday remanded Armaghan, the primary suspect in the Mustafa murder case, into police custody for four days. The court also directed authorities to present a progress report and medical examination findings at the next hearing.
Earlier, the Sindh High Court (SHC) overturned a previous decision by an anti-terrorism court that had allowed the suspect to remain in jail custody, instead transferring him to Anti-Terrorism Court-II. The reserved order was issued by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, who heard the prosecution’s appeal against the denial of physical remand.
According to police, Karachi resident Mustafa Amir went missing on January 6, and his charred remains were later found inside a vehicle in Balochistan. Authorities revealed that a suspect confessed to the crime during the investigation. Law enforcement officials stated that the incident stemmed from a personal dispute involving a woman.
Court Appearance
The suspect, Armaghan, was escorted to the court under heavy security, handcuffed, and with his face covered. His father, Kamran Qureshi, was also present and brought fruit for his son. Concerned about his son’s condition, Qureshi remarked, “You don’t look well at all,” to which Armaghan nodded in agreement.
During the hearing, the additional prosecutor general of Sindh read aloud the first information report (FIR), stating that Mustafa Amir had been abducted on January 6 and that the case was initially registered against unidentified suspects. On January 13, after a ransom demand, the case was transferred to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC). Investigators later recovered one of Mustafa’s mobile phones from the accused.
When the court inquired whether Armaghan had a prior criminal record, the prosecution confirmed that he was a fugitive in an extortion case registered at the Boat Basin Police Station and had five other cases against him.
Allegations of Torture
The court questioned why police custody was initially denied and asked if the accused had been subjected to torture. Armaghan claimed he had been beaten in custody, prompting the judge to order him to remove his shirt for examination. However, the additional prosecutor general stated that no visible signs of torture were present. The court noted that if the accused had raised concerns about mistreatment, a medical check-up should have been conducted.
Justice Rajput also expressed concerns about alterations in the custody order, pointing out handwritten changes and a “whito” stamp. The additional prosecutor general asserted that the suspect’s father had been present in the judge’s chamber when the decision was made.
Court Grants Physical Remand
Following the SHC’s ruling, the accused was presented before Anti-Terrorism Court-II for remand. The prosecution informed the court that four FIRs had been filed against Armaghan. When asked to confirm his identity, he stated, “My name is Armaghan, and my father’s name is Kamran.”
During questioning, Armaghan broke down in tears and insisted he had been severely beaten in custody. As the court discussed the case, he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed in the courtroom. He was laid on a bench while his lawyer requested a medical examination, citing his worsening condition.
The court criticized the investigation officer for failing to conduct a medical check-up earlier, stating that it should have been done on the first day of custody. The prosecution requested a nine-day physical remand to complete the investigation. However, the court granted police custody for four days.
Accused Denies Involvement
While being escorted out of court, Armaghan denied any role in Mustafa Amir’s murder, stating, “I did not kill Mustafa; I am being framed.” When asked why he fired at police officers during his arrest, he claimed, “They were robbing my house.”
Meanwhile, reporters covering the case noted that the suspect displayed inappropriate behavior toward journalists.
