Chunian suspect remanded in physical custody

Strict security arrangements were made during presentation of accused in ATC

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has extended the physical remand of the suspect, Sohail Shahzad, accused of murder-cum-molestation of children in Chunian, Kasur.

The suspect is in police custody. Strict security arrangements were made when the accused was presented to the ATC.

At the inquiry of the court, the suspect denied any police torture and he pleaded the court for protection from torture, while in prison, in the last hearing.

When the hearing began before ATC Judge Abdul Qayum Khan, the court inquired the suspect of any case of torture against him. At this, the accused told the court that no one assaulted him, and he, again, requested the court for his safety while in prison. At the court’s query, it was briefed that the medical examination of the accused was done on the same day.

Deputy Prosecutor General ATC-I Abdul Rauf Wattoo, while giving arguments in the court, said that in the two cases, the accused’s DNA matched with the two children and evidence also exists for the other two cases as well which will be presented in the court soon.

The report of Punjab Forensic Agency was presented in the court which revealed that police has recovered the shoes used in the incident. However the tyres of the rickshaw used in the incident needs to be recovered.

The deputy prosecutor requested thirty days more of remand for the accused. The court rendered the suspect to police on 14-day remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2019.