KARACHI, May 9: Justice Amir Hani Muslim of Sindh High Court, who is also administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts, on Monday sent Mahfooz Ahmed, an alleged associate of sacked provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, to jail directing police to submit charge sheet against him in kidnapping for ransom case on May 16.

Mahfooz Ahmed is named as one of the co-accused in case against sacked provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, Agha Asghar, Nasir Mehmood, Mehmood Zakir, Mohammad Ashfaq and Ateeq Ahmed Siddiqui. They are accused of kidnapping Umer Iqbal, 17, for ransom on June 28, 2003 from Qayumabad.

Zafar Iqbal, complainant of the case, alleged in FIR lodged at Korangi police station on March 28, 2005 that the accused kidnapped his son from his house on directives of Imtiaz Shaikh and Ateeq Ahmed Siddiqui and threatened his wife to pay Rs1.5 million as ransom for his release.

According to the complainant, Umer Iqbal was later released on payment of Rs700,000 at the house of Imtiaz Sheikh in Defence. The police arrested Mahfooz on May 3, 2005.

The investigation officer on Monday produced the accused before the administrative judge for obtaining further remand of eight days submitting that the police had to arrest absconding co-accused, recover ransom money and weapon.

Turning down the request of remand, the AJ sent the accused to jail and ordered investigation officer to submit charge sheet against him on the next date of hearing.

REMANDED: The administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts remanded an alleged kidnapper to police custody till May 14 on charge of kidnapping Zakir Rehman for ransom.