10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 9: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Monday the judgment in a kidnapping-for-ransom case against three accused, including the son of a senior superintendent of police.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Feb 12 for the pronouncement of judgment after hearing the final arguments from the prosecution and defence attorneys.

Asif Hussian Junejo, son of SSP Mumtaz Junejo, Alauddin Jenejo, son of Roshan Junejo, a town nazim from Sanghar and Rustum Haider were prosecuted for kidnapping a 20-year-old youth, who allegedly remained captive for 52 days and was released after the payment of Rs7 million as ransom.

Special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum prayed the court to award capital punishment to the accused, as, according to him, the prosecution had established its case beyond any shadow of doubt. The defence attorneys, however, contended that the case of the prosecution was full of contradictions and prayed the court for acquittal of the accused.

The three accused were arrested on Nov 1, while five other accused - Ms 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.

The victim, Syed Raza Abbas Zaidi, was allegedly kidnapped on Aug 30 from near 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. Next day victim's maternal uncle, Mansoor Javed, lodge an FIR against unknown kidnappers with the Darkhshan police.

According to prosecution, accused Rustum, along with absconding accused Zeeshan, Abu Sufiyan and Rafique Jatt, kidnapped Mr Zaidi when he was waiting for the woman. The kidnappers also took away victim's car and later abandoned it within the limits of the Buffer Zone police.

The kidnappers initially demanded Rs20 million as ransom for the release of Mr Zaidi. However, they agreed to release the victim for a ransom of Rs7 million after a series of negotiations with the family.

It was alleged that the accused was kept at a house owned by absconding accused Haji Mashooq Brohi, who reportedly got a loin's share in the ransom money. The prosecution examined in all the 13 witnesses and four defence witnesses appeared for the two Junejos.