Mustafa Amir murder case: Armaghan's physical remand extended for five days

• Prosecution says suspect linked to other serious crimes.
• Defence demands medical checkup, alleges inhumane treatment.
• Court allows suspect’s parents to meet under supervision.

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the physical remand of Armaghan Qureshi, the main suspect in the Mustafa Amir abduction and murder case, along with another suspect Shiraz Bukhari for another five days for another five days.

This is the second extension — with the first one being awarded on February 22 — in Armaghan's initial four-day physical remand allowed on February 18.

The case relates to the alleged kidnapping and murder of a BBA student, Mustafa, who had gone missing on January 6.

The whole saga unfolded after Armaghan opened fire at a team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) — a specialised unit of the Karachi police responsible for tackling cases related to murder and extortion — during a raid at his residence in Karachi's DHA earlier this month.

The deceased's body — found by police in a car near the Hub checkpost on January 12 and buried by the Edhi Foundation on January 16 — was later exhumed and subsequently buried after an initial DNA profiling report confirmed that the mortal remains belonged to Mustafa.

During the hearing today, the prosecution urged the court to extend the remand, while the investigating officer informed the court that the girl who was allegedly tortured by the suspects had been located, and her statement needed to be recorded.

The statements of witnesses under CrPC's Section 164 would also be documented.

Armaghan’s lawyer opposed the police’s request for an extension. The suspect told the court that he was being subjected to inhumane treatment, denied food, and not allowed access to the restroom for ten days.

The court, however, dismissed the claims as unrealistic. "A person cannot even stand if they aren't allowed to go to the washroom for 10 days," the judge remarked.

The defence further demanded prior notification before the recording of statements and called for the suspect’s medical examination. The prosecution countered by stating that the case had caused nationwide outrage, and the suspect was being investigated for possible links to money laundering and drug trafficking.

Furthermore, the investigation officer (IO) apprised the court that a Police have formed a joint investigation team (JIT) in the much-talked-about case with Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muqaddas Haider leading probe body.

Following deliberations, the court allowed Armaghan’s parents to meet him but warned that any disorder during the meeting should be reported immediately.

The court also ordered a medical examination of the suspect while extending the remand of Armaghan and co-accused Shiraz for five more days.

Separately, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon, Additional IG Karachi Police Javed Alam Odho, CIA DIG, AVCC SSP, and SIU SSP have been summoned to the Chief Minister House.

During the huddle, Odho will brief on the progress and future course of action in the said case.

Digital currency, merchant accounts

Meanwhile, details have emerged regarding Armaghan's illegal activities with revelations of merchant accounts being operated by him.

The accounts, as per the investigation sources, were used to transfer money obtained through fraud and scams.

Armaghan, the sources added, used to convert the money obtained via scam into digital currency and has converted millions of dollars into digital currency since 2017.

The money obtained through forgery was transferred directly to digital ATMs, the investigation sources said while noting that it was impossible to obtain evidence of the money converted into digital currency.

The suspect — who had closed all his accounts — had created various virtual cards using digital currency, which could then be used to withdraw money from ATMs.