KARACHI: Woman, two nephews acquitted of kidnapping
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, April 22: Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the Anti-terrorism Court No. 3 acquitted on Thursday a woman and her two nephews in a kidnapping for ransom case.
Tahira alias Yasmin, 38, and her brother's young sons - Ahsan Elahi and Mohammed Furqan - were prosecuted for kidnapping Khawaj Mohammed Abbasi, a real estate agent, on Dec 23, 2003.
The case was registered by the Preedy police on the complaint of the victim's son, Mohammed Khalid, who alleged that his father was kidnapped by the woman and her nephews for ransom. The judge exonerated the accused, who had a monetary dispute with the estate agent, from all charges by giving them the benefit of the doubt.
According to the complainant, Tahira with her two daughters came at their house and requested his father to buy them warm clothes at Light House on M. A. Jinnah Road. He alleged that he with his father drove the women to Light House.
He dropped all of them there and went ahead to park his car. However, he further alleged, he did not find his father and the women when he returned after parking the car.
The complainant alleged that later he was telephoned by the kidnappers, who demanded Rs1.5 million for the release of his father. However, the kidnappers agreed to a Rs200,000 ransom.
According to the prosecution, Tahira and Ahsan were arrested red- handed while receiving the ransom money near the Sir Syed Hospital at Qayyumabad. The two accused led the police to a house in the vicinity where the victim was confined. Furqan was allegedly on guard at the place. He was also arrested.
The two brothers were tried under the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance for their being underage. The accused were represented by M. Khalil Dogar and Mohammed Yaseen Gujjar.
According to the defence counsel, Tahira had bought a house in Defence View through estate agent Khawaj Mohammed. The deal was struck for Rs950,000 and she paid Rs600,000 to the agent.
Later, her brother, the father of the accused brothers, sent Rs100,000, which the complainant and his father received from a money changer. The counsel submitted that the so-called victim and his son had also quarrelled with the two brothers and their father.
