Court extends physical remand of 'Pinky' facilitators

Reprimands IO for lack of progress in investigation

KARACHI:

The Judicial Magistrate for District South on Monday extended the physical remand of Aaqib and Ghulam Abbas, facilitators of Anmol alias Pinky, in a high-profile drug trafficking case.

The two suspects were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Naeem Akhtar upon the expiry of their previous remand. During the hearing, the court expressed strong displeasure over the investigating officer's failure to arrest the main accused, Anmol alias Pinky, who has been on the run.

"You cannot even manage to formalise the arrest a woman accused who has been wanted for a month," remarked the judge. "If the investigating officer (IO) cannot secure the arrest of an accused already in jail, then what kind of investigation is being conducted?"

In response, IO Abdul Rehman assured the court that the accused woman would be arrested by the end of the day. He further requested an extension in physical remand, stating that a mobile phone needed to be recovered on the identification of suspect Aaqib, and that the absconding accomplices of the suspects were yet to be apprehended.

The court granted a two-day extension in the physical remand of both accused. The hearing was adjourned until the next date.