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KARACHI, Dec 14: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday acquitted two accused in the kidnapping for ransom case of an American-Pakistani businessman. Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 exonerated the two accused from all charges as the prosecution could not prove its case.
The case pertained to the kidnapping of a US-based businessman, Najmul Tariq, and the accused were the victim’s paternal nephew, Adeel Mansoor, and a head-constable, Khateebur Rehman. Two other accused, Syed Saeed Umer and Arsalan, were declared absconders.
According to prosecution, three armed men kidnapped Najmul Tariq on April 6 this year in parking lot of Baqai Hospital, Nazimabad.
Accused Khateebur Rehman allegedly showed the victim his official service card and told him that he was under custody before they took him in his car to a seaside hut and demanded Rs50 million for his release.
BLAST SITE INSPECTED: Judge Saghir Hussain Zaidi of the ATC-3 inspected the blast site of Madinatul Ilm mosque on an application filed by Special Public Prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum.
The judge fixed December 16 for the next hearing.
Mohammad Tehseen alias Arshad and Mohammad Altaf alias Mufti are being tried for their alleged involvement in the suicide bombing at the mosque in Gulshan-i-Iqbal which left three persons, including a head-constable, dead and more than 22 others wounded on May 30, 2005.
Asif was killed by police when he came with his co-accused to attack the mosque (Imambargah) while the alleged suicide bomber managed to enter the Imambargah and blew himself up.
