PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday convicted four persons for kidnapping a trader for ransom and also cutting one of his ears and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The judge Mohammad Zafar Khan pronounced the verdict after completion of arguments by the defence and the prosecution and ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the four suspected persons named Qadeer Khan, Zabihullah, Rafiullah and Deedar.

The court also sentenced two of the Afghans, Rafiullah and Deedar, to three years rigorous imprisonment for illegal stay in Pakistan, and directed that after completion of prison term they should be deported to their home country.

The convicts were charged under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act.

The prosecution claimed that the convicts had kidnapped Azeem Khan, 48, a resident of Hayatabad, in December 2013 and demanded Rs20 million ransom for his release.

Later, the police raided a residence near Arbab Road and recovered the trader, whereas during exchange of fire an accomplice of the suspects was also killed.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2015

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