KARACHI: ATC records statement of victim in ransom case
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 28: An anti-terrorism court adjourned on Wednesday the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case after recording the deposition of the victim.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Saturday for the next hearing after the statement by Syed Shahid Ahmed, who was kidnapped for ransom on Feb 2 within the limits of the Sachal police.
According to the prosecution, accused Zahid Sagheer along with absconding accused Fahad Masod, S. M. Nadeem, Imtiaz and Shahid kidnapped 22-year-old Syed Shahid Ahmed on Feb 2 within the limits of Sachal police and demanded Rs2.5 million for his release from his brother Syed Mohammed Serwar.
Zahid Sagheer was allegedly arrested on Feb 6 at his house in Landhi where the victim was kept. The police also recovered the victim from Sagheer’s house during the raid. The victim said that he was employed at an estate agency where accused Fahad also used to work.
The victim stated that on Feb 2 Fahad came to the estate agency and asked him to meet him at Faria Chowk as he wanted to show him a file of property. He said when he reached the designated place, he found Fahad and two others in a car. The occupants of the car took him to Landhi and detained at the house of Zahid Sagheer.
Shahid Ahmed stated that the kidnapper snatched his mobile phone from him and called his brother. He said the kidnappers demanded Rs2.5 million for his release.
He said Zahid Sagheer locked him in a room where he was beaten up. He said the police recovered him from the house of Zahid Sagheer who was also present there at the time of the raid.
BLAST CASE: An anti-terrorism court put off on Thursday the hearing of a bomb blast case against two workers of the banned Jundullah group after recording the statement of a prosecution witness.
Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of the ATC-2 fixed Nov 12 for the next hearing after the deposition by PW Robertson, who was also cross-examined by the defence counsel.
At least 12 people, including Clifton Town Police Officer Munir Shaikh, were injured and a dozen vehicles were damaged in a car bomb explosion followed by a cracker blast with an interval of 15-minutes along the parking area of Holy Trinity Church on Jan 15, 2004. Accused Ataur Rehman and Shahzad Bajwah are being tried in the case.
According to prosecution, a cracker was hurled at a book shop — Pakistan Bible Society — which exploded injuring a bookseller. The police and rangers reached the spot and as they were examining the place of the nature of blast and its impact, a powerful bomb, planted in a Suzuki Hi-Roof, parked near the bookstore along the wall of the Holy Trinity Church, exploded with a bang.
