KARACHI, Aug 16: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Wednesday a man to death in a kidnapping for ransom case.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 also ordered forfeiture of entire moveable and immovable properties of Shaukat Ali, who was found guilty of having kidnapped Shabbir Ali on April 24 in Soldier Bazaar area.

The judge, however, acquitted three co-accused – Mohammed Saleem, Mohammed Shahzad and Mujtaba Husain – while giving them benefit of doubt.

According to prosecution, represented by Mazhar Qayyum, the accused kidnapped the 25-year-old victim near his residence when he was going to his office at Mereweather Tower around 8:55am. The kidnappers told him that they were personnel of a law enforcement agency and dragged him in their car.

The kidnappers kept Shabbir Ali at the house of Shaukat Ali in Korangi, and they initially demanded Rs3 million from the victim’s family for his release. However, the kidnappers agreed to receive Rs400,000 ransom. The victim’s brother accordingly handed the money to accused Shaukat Ali and the victim was released on April 26.

Later, Murtaza Ali lodged the case against unknown culprits for kidnapping his brother for ransom. Police arrested Shaukat Ali at Kharadar on a tip-off and held other accused on his lead.

The prosecution examined in all 12 prosecution witnesses who included the victim and his brother.