Police escort ex-MPA Nadeem Hashmi after acquiring his remand from the court. PHOTO: INP
The arrested former Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA, Nadeem Hashmi, was remanded to seven days in police custody on Thursday in a case relating to the murder of two policemen.
The Anti-Terrorism Court-II headed by Judge Khalida Yasin also directed the investigation officer to submit charge sheet against the suspect, who should also be produced, on the next date of hearing.
The two constables were gunned down by unknown armed men on late Tuesday night. Hashmi was arrested later during the night, which caused outrage among the MQM. Parts of Karachi were also shut down on Wednesday. Vehicles were torched and public transport stopped running.
According to the prosecution, constables Mohammad Ali and Haris Iqbal were standing near a police mobile when suspects fired at them and fled. They succumbed to their multiple bullet wounds before receiving medical treatment.
Hashmi was arrested from his residence for alleged involvement and he was booked and arrested in terrorism and murder charges.
On Thursday, he was brought to the court for remand in an armoured personnel carrier escorted by five police vans.
The investigation officer informed the court that a co-accused, identified as Noshad, is still at large. He requested for Hashmi’s physical custody for two weeks to interrogate him and complete other legal formalities.
Meanwhile, Hashmi told the court that on the day of the incident, he was on a visit to a friend whose father had passed away. He then returned home where he had dinner with guests. At night, he was arrested from his house for his alleged involvement in the policemen’s murders, he said.
To another query, Hashmi said that he was a former member of the provincial assembly and union-council nazim. These days, he was doing a business of medicines. “I have not ridden a motorcycle in the last 25 years, but the police have written in the FIR that the suspects were riding motorcycles.”
Judge Khalida Yasin remarked that the court need not be told that the suspect is a former legislator.
The judge granted physical remand of the suspect for seven days.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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Uza Syed: Why do you confine MQM to represent only one community? Do you believe that?
Such selective action by police or anyone clearly elaborates the motivation behind it, it's nothing but singling out one specific ethnic community and target and punish them for their sense of political independence and democratic rights.
@Karachiwala: police has been politicized in the last decade, and all the last ruling parties are responsible
Aysha M: Have patience and dont feel agitated, we will know soon where things are going. Hashmi knows his party would do everything to get him out of any case against him. Sit back and watch. After all every party does the same way. Sit back and relax.
Police's electrifying performance could not stop Uzair and the ladla flee the country
how fast and efficient sindh police has become...amazing!