Polling day murder: Suspects’ remand extended for eight more days

The suspects’s council opposed the request for remand and said that the four men had nothing to do with the murder

RAWALPINDI:

The Saddar Bairooni police on Tuesday arrested one more suspect in connection with the murder of a man killed during local government elections in Rawalpindi on December 5.

The police arrested Mubashir Fiaz, a cousin of Asad Mahmood, one of the suspects involved in the murder of Shoaib Iqbal Raja, nephew of former provincial minister Basharat Raja, from outside the court.

Meanwhile Anti-Terrorism Court-I Judge Asif Majeed Awan extended physical remand of Asad Mahmood, a ruling party candidate for chairman in Union Council-8, Dhamial, his father Jan Nisar, brother-in-law Adil Rehman, and a friend Raja Umer Mazhar Abbasi for eight more days.

Earlier the investigation officer had sought fifteen days remand for the suspects for further interrogation. The court, however, gave eight days remand.

Advocate Naveed Ashraf Bhatti, representing the suspects opposed the request for remand and said that the four men had nothing to do with the murder. He said that 150 people were ready to submit their affidavits that Mahmood and his father were innocent in the case.

He said that he could provide an evidence to prove that Raja Umer Mazhar Abbasi was not present at the site where the incident took place as he was in Murree on the elections day.

Advocate Waheed Anjum, representing the complainant, said that the court needed to provide enough time to the police for proper investigation.

The police, meanwhile, obtained arrest warrants for Ikhlaq Ahmed, Iftikhar, and Mubashir Fiaz as they were wanted in the murder case.

According to some witnesses, the police arrested Mubashir Fiaz from outside the court premises where he had gone to support his arrested relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.