November 13, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 12: An anti-terrorism court recorded the testimony of a witness, who could not testify earlier due to paucity of time, in a kidnapping for ransom and murder case of a customs clearing agent on Wednesday.

Syed Mohsin Raza alias Javed, Syed Adnan Raza, Nazia and, wife of Mohsin, Shazia, are facing trial for kidnapping the customs clearing agent, Suhrab Khan, for ransom on June 21 and later killing him in Gulbahar police limits.

Mohammad Ali, a friend of the deceased and also stated to be an eyewitness in the case, appeared before Judge Syed Hasan Shah Bukhari of ATC-I and testified that the victim had called him on June 21. He deposed that his friend asked him to arrange Rs80,000 and hand over the amount to a person carrying his cellphone on Karimabad bridge.

He said when he reached the bridge a man approached him and asked for the money after showing the cellphone of the kidnap victim. He said he handed over the money but later informed the deceased’s brother about the incident since kidnappers did not release his friend.

The witness also identified accused Mohsin Raza before the trial court, saying that the accused had collected the ransom from him.

According to the prosecution, Suhrab was kidnapped on June 21 in the Gulbahar police limits and kidnappers demanded Rs80,000 for his release, but they allegedly shot him dead after getting the ransom. His body was found in his car (ANY-650) parked in the Gulbahar area the following day.

On July 22, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) acting on a tip-off raided a place in the