Four suspects sent on six-day remand

ATC dismisses bail plea of alleged MQM target killer

KARACHI: The administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts (ATC) sent on Saturday four suspects, allegedly involved in the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, to police custody on a six-day physical remand.

The ATC administrative judge heard the case in the premises of the Sindh High Court. A lower court had ordered on Friday the police to produce the four suspects, Arif Shah, Haider Ali Shah, Altaf Shah and Sahid Mehmood, before an ATC.

The investigation officer (IO) informed the court that the police did not delay the arrest of the suspects. The IO alleged that the suspects raped and tortured the girl with cigarette burns.

The court was requested to give the suspects to police on physical remand. Approving the request, the ATC administrative judge handed the suspects over to the police on a six-day remand.



Murder suspect's plea

An ATC also dismissed the bail plea of a suspected target killer belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Syed Shakir alias Rafay, who was allegedly involved in the targeted killing of DSP Nawaz Ranjha and his driver.

The hearing of the bail plea was held at the Anti-Terrorism Complex at Karachi Central, Jail. Suspects arrested from Nine Zero, including Obaid K2 and Abu Irfan, were produced before the court. Other suspects nominated in the case are Shafiq, Ishtiq alias Policewala, Zakir Hussain and Khawaja Faisal.

According to the police, all the suspects belong to the MQM. They had allegedly opened fire on DSP Ranjha's car on August 16, 2010 at a location within the limits of the Preedy police station. The DSP and his driver, Jahangir Hasan, were killed in the incident. Over five suspects booked in the case have been declared absconders.

Dismissing Rafay's bail plea, the ATC adjourned the hearing.