LAHORE: A judicial magistrate at Model Town courts on Monday extended for five days the physical remand of SSP Mufakhar Adeel in the murder case of former assistant advocate general Shahbaz Tatla.

Magistrate Shazia Mahboob also granted first physical remand of co-suspect Asad Bhatti to Naseerabad police for five days.

The police produced both suspects before the court amid strict security arrangements.

The lawyer of Bhatti stated he was satisfied with the police investigation and would not oppose the remand.

The magistrate granted the remand and directed the police to produce the suspects again on March 21.

Previously, the investigating officer had told the court that suspect Adeel had confessed to his crime during interrogation. He said the suspect murdered the lawyer in a brutal way which was shocking for public conscious.

SSP Adeel and Tatla had gone missing since Feb 7 last. As per media reports, co-suspect Bhatti, a common friend of both, told the police that Adeel murdered Tatla and disposed of his body by throwing in a drum of acid.

The police officer ended his mysterious disappearance and surrendered to the police a couple of days ago.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2020