February 17, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 28, 1428

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GUJRAT, Feb 16: An expatriate kidnapped a week ago has secured his release after paying a ransom to his captors.

England-based Pir Ghulam Rasool was kidnapped from Head Jaggu along with his friends Liaqat and Akhtar, when he was going to Mirpur by his car. His captors released Liaqat and Akhtar near Baisa Chowk on Bolani Road. They abandoned the car near Buttar village.

Later, they contacted the family of Rasool by telephone and demanded Rs6 million ransom for his release.

Police claimed that the kidnappers called from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Jhelum. The family agreed to give Rs700,000 when kidnappers reduced their demand. Police said the captors released Rasool after receiving the amount in the precinct of Sarai Alamgir police station.

Separately, Kharian deputy superintendent of police Raja Zafar claimed to have found a clue to the kidnappers of Supreme Court official Tariq Bashir who was kidnapped for ransom 18 days ago. He said that policemen were raiding different places to arrest the kidnappers who were from Kanian village. He said the kidnappers of Rasool would also be traced soon.

DEATH TERMS: Gujrat additional district and sessions judge Manzoor Hussain Dogar handed down death sentence on three counts to three convicts in a triple murder-cum-dacoity case. Jehangir, Mazhar and Ansar had shot dead their relative Nargis, her daughter Mehwish and son Sikandar during a dacoity bid in Lalamusa three years ago.