18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 17: An anti-terrorism court put off on Tuesday the hearing of two chanda (donation) collection cases as the prosecution closed its side with the statement of the investigation officer (IO).

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Friday for recording the statements of accused after deposition of the IO, Ijaz Ahmed, who was also cross-examined by defence counsel Nihal Hashmi.

The two cases were registered on Nov 22, 2003 by the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police against six workers of the banned Khuddamul Islam for illegally collecting donations in the name of Jihad (holy war).

The first case was registered against Farrukh Nafees, Suleman Khan and Nauman, who were caught in front of Masjid Siddiq-i-Akbar, Block-7, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, allegedly while collecting donations.

The second case was registered against another group of three persons - Syed Khalid Raza, Abdus Salam and Shakir Ullah - who were allegedly arrested in front of Masjid-i-Quba while collecting donations.

According to the prosecution, the activists were holding a banner inscribed with words: Manzil door naheen - Jihad kay liay dil khol kar chanda do (Destination is not too far - Donate generously for holy war).

KIDNAPPING CASE: Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 adjourned to Wednesday the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case after recording of statement of accused Mubeen Ahmed.

The accused is being tried for kidnapping Syed Adnan Ali Hashmi for ransom. His maternal nephew, Farrukh Ali Siddiqui, has been declared absconder. According to prosecution, the absconding accused had kidnapped his 20-year-old friend on Dec 12, 2003 and kept him at the house of his maternal uncle in Sabir Colony. Later, the victim was released on payment of ransom amounting to Rs350,000.