KARACHI – The prime suspect in the murder of TV anchor Mureed Abbas refused to record a confessional statement on Tuesday and instead decided to fight the legal battle.
Atif Zaman was brought from the hospital under strict security to the Karachi City Court in an ambulance for appearance before the judicial magistrate and to record his confession.
A day earlier, the case’s investigation officer (IO), Atiqur Rehman, had requested the court that the accused wished to record his confessional statement.
The Investigation Officer informed the court today that Zaman was present in an ambulance outside but it would be difficult to bring him to the courtroom.
Upon this, the judicial magistrate walked to Zaman to record his statement inside the ambulance; the court had asked Zaman as to whether he wished to record his statement if he was in a stable mental state.
Zaman was also inquired whether he was under duress to record the statement or not, informing him to consider the consequences of recording the confession; he was given some time to rethink before the recording of statement.
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After some time, the judicial magistrate met Zaman in the ambulance again and inquired if he wished to record the statement.
Upon this, Zaman declined and said he did not want to do so as he had hired legal counsel and would fight his case.
The IO had requested physical remand for the accused, however, the court rejected it.
Atif Zaman’s lawyer expressed that his client wanted to record his statement but was facing pressure.
The case relates to the murder of private TV anchor Mureed Abbas as well as Khizar Hayat, who happened to be the business partner of Atif Zaman.
Zaman, in his video statement after the murder, confided that he was not doing any sort of business and simply handed over profit to the investors from the investment of others.
‘I handed over profit at 20-25% ratio,’ Zaman said in the statement recorded after the murder.
Zaman detailed that he was wary of Khizar Hayat and feared that he would do something to get his money back.
The prime suspect in the murder had admitted that he purchased property in Karachi, bought three cars and toured around different countries as well.
