Murder case: ATC extends remand of Perween Rahman’s alleged killer

KARACHI: An administrative judge of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended on Friday the remand of a suspect in police custody in connection with the murder of activist Perween Rahman.

The judge allowed the investigators to interrogate the suspect for five days and directed them to produce him in court along with the final charge sheet.

The police claimed to have arrested Raheem Swati on May 7 this year following a shootout in the Sultanabad area of Manghopir. Illegal weapons and explosives were also allegedly seized from his possession.

According to the prosecution, Raheem is the prime suspect in Rahman's murder case. Rahman, director of the Orangi Pilot Project, was gunned down on Manghopir Road in March 2013.

On Friday, the investigating officer produced the suspect before the court to seek an extension in his physical custody. The officer said the suspect was needed for further interrogation, as the investigation into the murder was yet to be completed and other formalities still had to be fulfilled. Allowing the request, the administrative judge extended the physical custody of the suspect for five days. The investigation officer was told to produce Raheem on the next date of the hearing when the final charge sheet against him will also be submitted.

Earlier, the police had charge sheeted Ahmed Khan alias Ahmed Ali alias Pappu Kashmiri and Muhammad Imran Swati in October 2015, when Raheem Swati, Ayaz Swati, Amjad Afridi and Shaldar Khan were shown as absconders.

The charge sheet said that during questioning, the detained suspect Imran disclosed that Raheem, of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, with his brother-in-law Shaldar and others carried out the killing. It contended that Imran also claimed his association with the Awami National Party in 2010 and was part of the meeting in which the murder was planned.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2016.