An anti-terrorism court in Karachi sent three personnel of the recently-formed Shaheen Force on five-day physical remand for their involvement in last evening’s murder of a young man in Karachi.

The investigation officer told the court that the three constables – Sheheryar, Faisal and Nasir – had claimed that a ‘dacoit’ had been shot during an exchange of fire. The cops claimed that the victim was armed. Both claims were found to be false during the investigation, the IO said.

He informed the court that police has recorded the statements of the victim’s family and acquired CCTV footage of the shooting. They have also sought data from the Criminal Record Office (CRO) for the policeman. The court granted physical remand and sought a report at the next hearing on January 2.

What happened

Initially, it was reported that the Shaheen Force personnel signaled two men on a motorcycle to stop within the remits of the Shahra-e-Faisal police station. A police chase ensued when the motorcyclist ignored the signal.

The motorcyclist, who was identified as 26-year-old Amir Hussain, entered an apartment complex in Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. He was accompanied by two others, Hameedullah and a three-year-old girl.

The cops shot Amir twice while he was approaching the elevator after leaving the parking lot. In one clip, the girl can be seen as well.

Shahryar, the cop who fired the shots, and constable Nasir were appointed in 2018. The third cop, Faisal, was recruited in 2012.

Police sources added that the personnel had planted a weapon on Amir but this detail couldn’t be confirmed. Investigation authorities were unable to find any criminal record of Amir.

FIR

According to the first information report, filed on the complaint of the victim’s mother, her son had left to visit his father, a former government official.

The FIR states that the policemen fled after shooting the victim dead. The FIR was registered under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.