Imran Farooq murder case: ATC extends remand of suspects

FIA submits progress report before the court

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday extended the physical remand of three suspects in the Imran Farooq murder case and handed them over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for 14 days.

ATC-I Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi granted remand of the suspects, namely Moazzam Ali Khan, Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali, after they were produced before the court amid tight security. During the hearing, Moazzam’s counsel Mansoor Afridi contended that his client had been detained illegally since December 23.

Afridi said the investigators have been seeking an extension in the physical remand of the suspects for over 29 days but no progress has been shown in the enquiry report submitted before the court.

He also questioned the progress made by the Joint Investigation Team in the case so far. The FIA is asking for an extension in the remand but they have not stated any reason for it before the court, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the FIA submitted its progress report before the court. The agency sought physical remand of the suspects on grounds that they were nominated in the FIR, hatched a conspiracy, and conspired with each other in the murder of Dr Farooq who was “a potent threat to the leadership of MQM.”

Following the arguments, the court granted 14-day remand of the suspects with directions to FIA to allow the suspects to meet their families.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2016.