ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday extended the physical remand of a suspect for three days in a case involving the killing of three Rangers personnel on duty on Srinagar Highway during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on October 26.
The accused, Hasham Abbasi, was presented before the ATC after the expiry of his initial seven-day physical remand. He is accused of running over three Rangers personnel with his vehicle, resulting in their deaths.
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Prosecutor Raja Naveed requested a further seven-day physical remand, arguing that the suspect’s information was crucial for apprehending other individuals allegedly involved in the incident. He stated that additional remand would assist the police in expanding their investigation.
However, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain denied the request and instead granted a three-day extension of the suspect’s physical remand.
According to the police, the suspect had rammed his vehicle into a group of Rangers personnel, killing three on the spot and injuring several others.
The federal government had called in the army to maintain law and order during the PTI protest, issuing directives to use force, including shooting troublemakers on sight.
On October 26, security forces and police launched a late-night crackdown on PTI protesters at D-Chowk, dispersing them and arresting several party workers. Authorities alleged that some detainees were in possession of sophisticated weapons.
The PTI, however, claimed that scores of its workers were killed in the crackdown after being fired upon with live bullets—a charge denied by both the police and the federal government.
A PTI spokesperson stated that “hundreds of peaceful protesters” were injured, describing the security response as “brutal and violent.”
Numerous PTI workers have since been detained on various charges, including terrorism, with many being presented in different courts across Islamabad.