LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday denied police further physical remand of woman suspect Amna Arooj in a honey-trap case involving the kidnapping and torture of playwright Khalilur Rehman Qamar.

Judge Khalid Arshad sent the woman to jail on judicial remand and also ordered the authorities to conduct her medical examination.

Separately, the judge also issued a notice to the prosecution on the bail petition of Arooj.

The petition argued that since the court sent Arooj on judicial remand, she was no longer required for further investigation. It said there was no legal justification for keeping her behind bars.

The petition further said there was no evidence against the petitioner, as she did not abduct the playwright nor demanded any ransom from him.

It asked the court to release the petitioner on bail.

The other day, the court had remanded nine more suspects in police custody for their role in the case.

The suspects are Tanveer Ahmed, Qaiser Abbas, Rasheed Ahmed, Falak Sher, Mian Khan, Yasir Ali, Javed Iqbal, Zeeshan Qayum and Mamoon Haider.

During her previous hearing before the court, Arooj stated that both Hassan Shah, a suspect, and Qamar blackmailed her. She said Shah, who was like a brother to her, knew about Qamar’s blackmailing.

Arooj claimed that both men were powerful, and she got trapped between them.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024