June 01, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428

PESHAWAR, May 31: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday acquitted four people charged with kidnapping two men for ransom. The court presided over by Shahjee Rehman Khan observed that the prosecution could not prove its case against the accused.

The accused, Khan Mohammad, his brother Fateh Mohammad, Wahab Ali and Adnan Khan had been arrested over the kidnapping of Mushtaq Ahmad and Sajjad Ahmad, who had property business in Islamabad.

Police had claimed that the two men had been kidnapped on the night between Aug 12 and 13, 2006, near Hakeemabad in Nowshera.

Their vehicle was found in Chamkani area.

Later, police arrested Adnan Khan, who allegedly divulged the names of his three accomplices.Police claimed that Adnan’s two sisters were also involved in the kidnapping and they were absconding.

Advocate Asthagfirullah Khan appeared for the defence and contended that the accused had been falsely implicated in the case.

He said the identification parade of the accused had not been conducted.

He said Adnan had been made to confess under duress and his statement was not in conformity with other evidence.

FAKE NOTES CASE: Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Zamurad Shah acquitted a man charged with possessing fake currency.

The accused, Iftikhar Ali of Achini Payan, was arrested on March 3, 2005, by Hayatabad police.

Police had claimed seizing fake notes of Rs95,000 from his possession.

Advocate Gohar Saleem Afridi appeared for the accused and contended that the evidence on record did not connect the accused with the commission of the offence.

He said that there was no independent witness supporting the prosecution’s case.