07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 6: Three accused, including the son of a senior superintendent of police, in a kidnapping for ransom case were identified on Tuesday by a prosecution witness before an anti- terrorism court.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Wednesday for recording further evidence after statement by Mohammed Irfan, who had handed over Rs7 million to the kidnappers as ransom money for the release of a hostage.

The prosecution witness identified the three accused - Asif Hussian Junejo, son of SSP Mumtaz Junejo, Alauddin Junejo, son of Roshan Junejo (a town nazim from Sanghar), and Rustum Haider - with their specific roles.

The case pertained to the kidnapping of a 20-year-old man, who remained in captivity for 52 days and was released after payment of Rs7 million as ransom. The three accused were arrested on Nov 1 while five other accused - Natasha alias Sonia, Zeeshan alias Burger, Abu Sufiyan, Haji Mashooq Brohi, and Rafique Jatt son of Dawood Jatt - have been declared absconders by the court.

Syed Raza Abbas Zaidi was allegedly kidnapped on Aug 30 from near the Country Club Apartments, Sea View, where he had reached to meet Natasha on her request. The woman had allegedly called the victim on his cellular phone. The next day victim's maternal uncle, Mansoor Javed, lodged an FIR against unknown kidnappers with the Darakhshan police.

According to prosecution, accused Rustum along with absconding accused Zeeshan, Abu Sufiyan and Rafique Jatt kidnapped Syed Raza Abbas as he waited for the woman. The kidnappers also took away victim's car and later abandoned it within the limits of the Buffer Zone police.

The kidnapper initially demanded 20 million as ransom for the release of Raza. However, they agreed to release the victim for a ransom of Rs7 million after a series of negotiations with the family.

The prosecution witness, Irfan, stated that he along with driver Zubair had gone to deliver money to the accused near Ghani Chowrangi, SITE. He said he handed over the money to accused Rustum, who was on a Honda 125cc bike.

The witness deposed that accused Asif Junejo and Mumtaz Junejo were also present in a Suzuki Mehran at a close distance when Rustum received the money. He said the two Junejos were standing outside the car, while the driver of the car and a woman in the front seat remained in the car.

He said Rustum gave the bag of money to accused Alauddin, who along with three others left the scene in their car, while Rustum rode away on his bike.The PW said he had also identified the three accused during an identification parade before a judicial magistrate.

Amjad Hussain Shehto, counsel for Asif Hussain Junejo, and S. A. Ghaffar, counsel for Rustum also cross-examined the prosecution witness. It was alleged that the accused was kept at a house owned by absconding accused Haji Mashooq Brohi, who reportedly got the loin's share in the ransom money. Special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, has so far examined five prosecution witnesses.

CONVICTED: The additional district and sessions judge, East, Kausar Sultana, sentenced a man to suffer a four-year term for possessing an unlicensed rifle.

Accused Shahid alias Lamba was arrested and booked on June 11, 1999, by the Jamshed Quarter police for carrying a sub-machine gun. The judge also fined him Rs25,000 and she ordered that the convict would have to undergo an additional six-month term in case of default on the payment.

COP ACQUITTED: Judge Kausar Sultan also acquitted a police constable, who was prosecuted for snatching Rs500 from two pedestrians. Constable Mohammed Hussain was booked for depriving Tariq and Mushtaq of Rs500 on the pretext of personal search on Jan 9, 1997, within the limits of the Korangi Industrial Area police.