Sargodha shrine case: Murderer, accomplices sent to police on physical remand

SARGODHA: The anti-terrorism court has sent on physical remand the three accused of Sargodha shrine murders, including 'faith healer' Abdul Waheed.

The accused were handed over to the police on remand on Monday when they were taken to the court under tight security.  

Moreover a joint investigation into the case has started, while food items collected from the site of the incident at the shrine have been sent to the forensic laboratory.  

Police filed a case Waheed and his accomplices on Sunday, claiming that no one from the bereaved families has come forward to file a complaint.

According to the police, the bereaved families hold Waheed in high regard despite him confessing to the murder of their loved ones.

The accused was a custodian of the Darbar Ali Muhammad Gujjar shrine in Sargodha. He and his accomplices allegedly intoxicated his disciples before torturing them to death Saturday night. Waheed in his statement to the police said they were scheming to poison him.

While talking to Geo News, Waheed said he had found his spiritual leader's son Asif adding poison to his food.

"I caught him and probed further, upon which I got to know a woman was also involved with him in the plan [of killing me]," he said.

Since Waheed suspected it to be a scheme against him, he phoned and summoned his other disciples to the shrine and tortured them all to death.

Two women and as many men managed to escape, in an injured condition, from the shrine. One of them reported the horrendous crime to locals who then informed the police. The injured were admitted at the district headquarters hospital, where their condition is said to be improving.

Waheed is a resident of Green Town, Lahore. He worked at the Election Commission of Pakistan until last year.