Court extends physical remand of PAF officer’s alleged killer by seven days

ISLAMABAD: The anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted the police another seven-day physical remand of accused Saad Abbasi, who was arrested for murdering Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq.

On July 5, the PAF group captain was martyred in Islamabad in a bid to save a woman as the accused was trying to take her away “forcefully”. As Tariq intervened, the accused opened fire, which struck the officer.

The Islamabad police had arrested the accused within nine hours after the incident.

ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case on Monday.

The accused, who was arrested by the federal police, was produced before the court after the completion of his initial seven-day physical remand.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani appeared before the court and sought a further 15-day physical remand of the accused.

The prosecutor informed the court that the pistol allegedly used in the murder had been recovered, adding that the accused had allegedly hidden the weapon after the incident.

The prosecution further submitted that the accused’s mobile phone was yet to be recovered and that additional physical remand was required for further investigation.

After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision. Later, it approved an additional seven-day physical remand of Abbasi and handed him over to the police for further investigation.

The court directed the police to produce the accused before it again on Aug 3. ...