A judicial magistrate on Wednesday extended the prime suspect's remand by three more days as investigators probe the murder of college student Zafir near Karachi's Do Darya area.

The investigating officer of the case had produced Khawar Hussain Burney, the accused, before the magistrate and requested that the court extend his remand for 10 more days.

The magistrate, however, agreed to only a three-day extension.

During proceedings, the prosecution's lawyer pleaded that the court add Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act to the case against the suspect, "as his actions had spread terror."

However, the investigating officer (IO) does not want the inclusion of 7-ATA to the charges against the accused, the prosecutor said.

The IO has also named three brothers, Haider Hussain Burney, Hasan Hussain Burney and Hasnain Hussain Burney; Raza Hussain Burney and his brother Haris Hussain Burney; Danish, Hammad, Abdul Rehman, Noman, Umar Pirwani; and a woman, Mehak, as co-accused in the remand papers.

They are all currently absconding.

Police said that the suspects had gunned down the 18-year-old college student, Zafir Ahmed Zuberi, and caused injuries to his friend Zaid on Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue near Seaview beach on Dec 3 after the victims hit motorcyclist Dr Abdul Raheem with their car. The suspects had chased the victims and opened indiscriminate fire on them in what seemed to be an act of vengeance.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the deceased’s father, Fahim Ahmed Zuberi, at the Sahil Police Station.

‘History of violence’

Investigators have also stated that Khawar Hussain Burney has a history of “violence and interest in arms” and strongly suspect his involvement in a similar incident sometime back.

SSP South Javed Akbar Riaz told Dawn that the suspect had told police that following Dr Raheem's accident, he and his friends thought that their colleague had died.

He quoted the suspect as saying that they chased Zafir and Zaid and their vehicles had hit each other during the chase, but the victims had not stopped.

The suspects have said they then continued their chase and opened fire on the tyres of the victims' cars, but the indiscriminate firing resulted in the tragedy.

The accused has claimed that he was in a “fit of rage and became hyper” since he thought the motorcyclist had killed in the accident. He gave this as his reason for shooting one of the victims dead and injuring another.

Siyal visits bereaved family

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal visited the home of the victim on Wednesday to extend condolences on behalf of the provincial government and the PPP.

Accompanied by DIG South, SSP South and SSP Investigation, Siyal promised that justice will be served in the case.

He directed the police to ensure a transparent and unbiased investigation into the matter and also announced Rs50,000 award for police team that arrested the suspects.