Four accused sent on judicial remand in dumper arson case

ATC reprimands IO for lapses in investigation, orders submission of challan

KARACHI:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has remanded four suspects to judicial custody in connection with two separate cases involving the arson of dump trucks in New Karachi.

The accused - identified as Syed Fardeen, Muhammad Muneeb, Muhammad Fahad, and Muhammad Moaz Siddiqui - were produced before the ATC by New Karachi police. The cases involve the alleged burning of two dumpers, one at Power House Chowrangi and another around 1.5 kilometres away, during the same time period.

During the proceedings, the court raised serious questions regarding the investigation. Referring to the police remand papers, the court remarked, "According to the timeline, the accused are alleged to have set fire to two vehicles at different locations simultaneously. Is that even possible? Are they supermen?"

The investigating officer (IO), Inspector Sufiyan, admitted there had been a typographical error in the remand documents and assured the court that it would be rectified.

The court further questioned the basis of the arrests, to which the IO stated that the suspects were detained on the tip-off of an informant. The IO acknowledged that while CCTV footage of the incidents exists, he had not yet reviewed it.

The court also expressed displeasure over the absence of the complainant, who was supposed to identify the suspects. The court reprimanded the IO, questioning how suspects could be presented without proper identification procedures.

In its written order, the court noted that the IO failed to provide satisfactory answers to the court's inquiries. Consequently, the accused were remanded to jail on judicial custody, and the court directed the IO to submit the case challan at the next hearing.