PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court here on Saturday extended the physical remand of a police constable for 15 days in a case about the last year’s Peshawar Police Lines suicide bombing, which claimed 84 lives.

Officials of the counter-terrorism department produced Mohammad Wali before judge Mohammad Iqbal Khan amid tight security.

The suspect has been in the CTD’s custody since his arrest by the police on Nov 11, with his physical remand extended by the ATC from time to time.

Last week, he was remanded in police custody for 10 days.

During Saturday’s hearing, the CTD’s investigation officer informed the court that the suspect had made several disclosures to the police about his involvement in the cases of police lines bombing and several other terrorist incidents.

He added that the suspect’s further physical remand was needed as his investigation was still under way.

A suicide bomber had targeted a mosque at the highly guarded police lines on Jan 30, 2023, which had left a portion of the mosque caved in.

The disclosure about the arrest of the suspect was made by KP Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur during a news briefing last month.

The IGP claimed that the suspect was arrested along with two suicide jackets from near Jameel Chowk on Peshawar’s Ring Road.

He added that the suspect had acted on the orders of the banned terrorist organisation Jamaatul Ahrar and received Rs200,000 for the Police Lines bombing through the hundi-hawala financial system.

The police chief also said that the detainee received Rs40,000-Rs50,000 from the banned group every month. He said that the suspect was also involved in other several terrorist incidents, including the killing of a priest at Jamil Chowk here in Jan 2022.

CASE AGAINST BANGASH: Judge of an ATC Asadullah Khan directed the police to produce the complete challan (charge sheet) of a case registered against former provincial minister and PTI leader Kamran Bangash for allegedly sheltering an absconding party leader, Murad Saeed, and firing at a police team.

Hearing into the case was later adjournedto Jan 3, 2025.

At the start of the hearing, the court was informed that a complete challan had so far not been submitted in the case.

Mr Bangash appeared before the court in person.

A large police contingent raided the house and hujra of the PTI leader in October last year and took him away. He was later booked under different provisions of Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act for “harbouring” proclaimed offender Murad Saeed.

The police also alleged that when the raiding team went to the hujra of Mr Bangash, some men fired at it, injuring personnel Rashid and Kaleem.

Mr Bangash denied the charge, insisting that it was a concocted case meant for his political victimisation.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024