KARACHI, Aug 8: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Friday its judgment in a case pertaining to the kidnap and murder of a 21-year-old man till Aug 15.

The accused, Abu Alkalam, and, his son, Abdul Razzaq, were indicted on May 23 on charges of kidnapping and killing Kamal. However, the accused pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the case.

The judge, Abdul Ghafoor Memon, of ATC-II, who is conducting the trial, on Friday recorded final arguments from both sides and reserved his order till Aug 15 for pronouncement.

According to the prosecution, the police found the body of a young man on February 14 near the Premier College from the limits of the North Nazimabad police station.

On Feb 15, the deceased was identified as Kamal, 21, son of Abdul Haq. After initial investigations, however, the police on Feb 16 arrested the accused.

The charge-sheet said that the deceased, Kamal, was said to be fond of the daughter of Abu Alkalam and wanted to marry her.

However, the girl’s family opposed the matrimonial alliance which led to many disputes between both the families.

On Feb 13, the accused along with his son, Abdul Razzaq, and a relative, Mahjil Hussain, killed Kamal and dumped the body near Premier College, it added.

In the final arguments, the defence counsel submitted that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence in order to prove its case against the accused, adding that his client was implicated. He pleaded for his client’s acquittal.

However, the special public prosecutor argued that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against both the accused and requested the court to award them capital punishment.

The police had registered a case (FIR No81/08) under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Mahjil Hussain has been declared absconder in the case.

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