KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Tuesday extended the police remand of a suspected hitman associated with a banned militant outfit in a case pertaining to the murder of a television journalist.

After the end of his first remand, the police produced Zeeshan Haider, said to be associated with the banned Sipah-i-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP), in court and sought an extension in his police remand for further questioning.

The ATC-II judge remanded the suspect in police custody for 14 more days and asked the investigation officer to produce him on the next date along with a progress report.

According to the prosecution, TV journalist Aftab Alam was gunned down outside his house in II-C area of North Karachi on Sept 9.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the AntiTerrorism Act, 1997 at the Sir Syed police station.

The counter terrorism department (CTD) of police claimed to have arrested the suspect on Sept 21 and said he was associated with banned SMP.

The CTD submitted that the suspects disclosed to his involvement in the murder of the TV journalist and two brothers on the same day in North Karachi.

Rangers detain two `political workers` for 90 days Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, informed the same court on Tuesday about 90-day preventive detention of two suspects for questioning.

The paramilitary soldiers along with their legal team produced Javed Katya and Muhammad Ameer alias Meero, said to be political workers, in court along with their detention orders and jail warrants.

They informed the court that the suspects were picked up during the ongoing targeted operation in Liaquatabad and there was credible information about their involvement in targeted killing, extortion and other terrorism related activities.

Thus, they were placed under preventive detention for three months under Section 11EEEE (1) of the ATA for further questioning and produced for the information of the court, the Rangers added.