An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the physical remand of Armaghan Qureshi and Shiraz, the key suspects in the Mustafa Amir murder case, for five more days, while also ordering their medical examination.
The court dismissed Armaghan’s claim that he had been denied access to a washroom for ten days, stating, “If that were true, you wouldn’t be standing here.” It also allowed the accused to meet their families and lawyers under police and court supervision. The defense team, including Abid Zaman, Tahir-ul-Rehman, and Barrister Sara Asim, formally submitted their legal representation.
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Armaghan alleged he was being tortured in custody and pleaded not to be remanded for further interrogation. However, the prosecution argued that additional remand was necessary as police had traced a girl named Zuma, whose statement and DNA test were still pending.
The defense lawyer raised concerns over Shiraz’s legal counsel being denied access while YouTubers were allegedly allowed to interview him. He also urged the court to review the record of a reported 15-minute police encounter, during which the accused had contacted the emergency helpline.
Case Overview
Mustafa Amir, a resident of Defence, was reported missing on January 6, and his mother filed a missing person’s report the following day. On January 25, she received a ransom call from an American number demanding Rs 20 million, prompting authorities to add kidnapping-for-ransom charges.
Following intelligence reports, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) raided Armaghan’s residence in Defence on February 9. During the operation, Armaghan allegedly resisted arrest and exchanged gunfire with the police, injuring DSP AVCC Ahsan Zulfiqar and a constable before being subdued.
Initially, Armaghan confessed to killing Mustafa and disposing of his body in Malir, but he later retracted his statement. Further investigations, assisted by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and federal agencies, led to the arrest of his accomplice, Shiraz, who admitted that Armaghan had tortured and murdered Mustafa at his home on January 6. The body was then transported to Hub, Balochistan, where it was set on fire.
Based on Shiraz’s confession, police recovered Mustafa’s burnt car from Hub. The charred remains, previously buried by a welfare organization, were identified through DNA testing.
Meanwhile, investigators are still working to recover Mustafa’s mobile phone, verify the involvement of a 12-year-old girl, and locate the murder weapon. Authorities have also sought court approval to exhume Mustafa’s body for a post-mortem examination.
