Armaghan, Shiraz indicted in Mustafa Amir murder case

KARACHI: A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday indicted Armaghan and Shiraz in the Mustafa Amir murder case, with both accused pleading not guilty to the charges.

The hearing was held at the Karachi Central Jail Anti-Terrorism Complex, where the two suspects were produced before Special Court No. 15 and formally charged. Following their denial of the allegations, the court issued notices to prosecution witnesses and fixed March 12 for their appearance.

According to the prosecution, Mustafa Amir was killed last year and his body was allegedly set on fire in Balochistan. Armaghan and Shiraz, described as close friends of the victim, are the prime suspects in the case.

In addition to the murder charges, Armaghan also faces accusations of opening fire on a police team during an attempted arrest, along with separate cases involving drug peddling, money laundering and operating an illegal call centre. Last month, a Karachi court granted him bail in a separate trial under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) related to the alleged call centre operation.

Earlier this week, the special ATC dismissed a defence request to constitute a medical board for Armaghan’s psychiatric evaluation. The defence had sought the assessment, potentially to support an insanity plea.

During the proceedings, Armaghan told the court he was mentally sound and accused his counsel of attempting to have him declared insane without his consent. “I did not hire this lawyer, nor did I give him any authority. I am perfectly fine. They are unnecessarily trying to declare me insane,” he said.

The court rejected the petition and observed that the charges against Armaghan carry the possibility of the death penalty, stressing the necessity of legal representation. The judge informed him that a state-appointed counsel could be provided if he did not wish to retain his current lawyer, but Armaghan declined the offer of government-appointed representation as well.