KARACHI – Eight men suspected of involvement in sectarian targeted killings were remanded into the custody of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police until January 6 on Monday.
The suspects, allegedly associated with the banned Sipah-e-Muhammad, were produced by police before different judicial magistrates, seeking physical remand for further interrogation.
The suspects, arrested in separate raids on Sunday, were identified as Babar Hussain, Parvez Zaidi, Rafat Ali, Jahangir, Hasnain Abbas, Tanvir Abbas, Sikandar alias Sajid, Ali Mehdi and Kumail.
A heavy contingent of police was deputed and strict security measures taken to bring the alleged militants in the city courts with their faces covered.
They were produced before different judicial magistrates on charges of various heinous crimes including sectarian killings, attempts to killing and possession of illegal arms.
According to the prosecution, the SIU had arrested the suspects, who were said to be running their own group named ‘Mehdi Force’. The police claimed that during the preliminary course of interrogation, the suspects had confessed to killing a dozen people belonging to rival sects and organisations including Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Jaish-e-Muhammad.
