Mustafa Amir case: Medical board to supervise murder probe

A medical board will supervise the investigation into the murder of 23-year-old Mustafa Amir, which will be overseen by a court magistrate. Officials have been tasked with obtaining DNA samples to determine the cause of death. Security measures have been reinforced, and investigating officer Muhammad Ali Noorani has been assigned to oversee security and logistics.

Armaghan, the key suspect, admitted to murdering Mustafa during interrogation the day before. Sharing the details, he recalled that Mustafa was still semi-conscious when his car caught fire. Armaghan acknowledged physically attacking him and firing three warning shots that did not strike him. He also indicated that if he had known the police were approaching his home earlier on February 8, the exchange of fire might have been prolonged.

Law enforcement officers have confirmed that his confession was recorded on tape.

Mustafa Amir went missing on January 6, and his mother received a ransom call weeks later. On January 12, Karachi police discovered an unidentified scorched body inside a burning automobile at the Hub checkpoint. The body was originally turned over to the Edhi Foundation for burial as an unclaimed case.

Further investigations revealed that Armaghan allegedly abducted and murdered Mustafa and had demanded Rs20 million in ransom from his parents. Following a gunfight, police arrested Armaghan and recovered Mustafa's phone and other belongings from his residence, which served as crucial evidence. Another suspect, Shiraz Bukhari, was detained and provided evidence consistent with statements from Armaghan's household staff.

Authorities have since uncovered Armaghan's long criminal background, which includes narcotics trafficking, extortion, and other illegal activities. He was allegedly connected to a drug cartel and operated an illegal software company and phone centre that scammed overseas clients. Investigators also accuse Mustafa of narcotics distribution, as records show that he was charged on January 4 with supplying drugs in affluent Karachi neighbourhoods.

Armaghan's father, Kamran Qureshi, has publicly defended his son, claiming Mustafa was a narcotics supplier. He also justified his son's decision to open fire on the police during the raid, stating that it was to protect confidential data at his software company.

Following mismanagement of the case, three police officers were suspended for failing to make progress sooner. The victim's mother accused police authorities of negligence and victim-blaming, prompting a formal investigation into their actions.

Officials are still probing into other possibilities, with DNA confirmation and forensic analysis critical in the next stages of the investigation.