Judge killing: Guard sent on 3-day physical remand

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An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday sent the guard who accidentally shot Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmed Awan on a three-day physical remand.

The incident took place during the gun-and-suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts premises.

The gunman, Babar Hussain, was presented before ATC Judge Atiqur Rehman, where he told the court that he did not fire shots at the judge but the terrorists. The police sought a seven-day remand of the guard, however, the court granted a three-day physical remand after which the guard was taken into police custody.

The court ordered that the guard be represented again befoe the court on Monday.

On March 3, two suicide bombers and their armed accomplices had attacked the compound, leaving 12 people dead and injuring over two dozen others.

Three days later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had revealed in the National Assembly that Judge Awan, who was believed to be killed by terrorists in the attack was actually hit by the bullets of his own guard.

Elaborating the findings, the minister had said that when the terrorists started indiscriminate shooting outside the premises of the district courts, Judge Awan and his staff members, including the armed guard, had left the courtroom and taken refuge in the judge’s chamber. But when the suicide blast took place 50 metres away from the judge’s office, the guard had inadvertently pulled the trigger of his 9mm pistol and three bullets hit Judge Awan.

The guard had himself confessed to the incident.