ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday handed the prime suspect in the murder of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Group Captain Asim Tariq, Saad Abbasi, over to police on a seven-day physical remand after observing that the accused had caused an irreparable loss to the country.
The suspect was produced before ATC Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain under tight security, where the prosecution sought his physical custody to further investigate the high-profile case.
Special Prosecutor Naveed Kayani informed the court that the accused had been identified during the investigation. During the hearing, Saad Abbasi broke down and started crying in the courtroom.
Addressing the suspect, Judge Zulqarnain remarked, “What is the use of crying now? What will come back from your crying? You have caused great loss to the country and destroyed an innocent family. You have no idea what a valuable asset of the country you have destroyed.”
The court approved a seven-day physical remand, rejecting the police’s request for a 20-day remand, and directed investigators to continue the probe.
It may be recalled here that the case stems from the killing of Group Captain Asim Tariq, who was fatally shot in Islamabad after intervening to protect a woman from an alleged abduction attempt near Shaheen Chowk in the Margalla police limits earlier this month.
Police arrested the prime suspect, Saad Abbasi, within hours of the incident following a citywide search operation. Investigators have said preliminary findings suggest the suspect opened fire after the PAF officer confronted him while he was allegedly trying to force the woman into a vehicle.
