ATC rejects 'insanity defence' for Armaghan

KARACHI:

A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday rejected a request to constitute a medical board for the psychiatric evaluation of Armaghan, the main accused in the Mustafa Amir murder case.

The defence counsel sought a psychiatric evaluation, possibly to establish an insanity defense.

The hearing was held at the Anti-Terrorism Complex inside Karachi Central Jail. During the proceedings, Armaghan accused his lawyer of attempting to declare him mentally unstable and refused to accept his legal representation.

"I did not hire this lawyer, nor did I give him any authority. I am perfectly fine. They are unnecessarily trying to declare me insane," the accused told the court, adding that he wanted to defend the case himself.

The court observed that the charges against him could carry the death penalty and that he must have legal representation. The judge told him that if he did not want the current lawyer, the court would appoint a state counsel. However, Armaghan declined the offer of a government-appointed lawyer as well.