GUJRANWALA, May 17: The kidnapping of a murder case complainant delayed the execution of the convict. Muhammad Arshad of Kot Ladha was to be hanged on Tuesday. Complainant Muhammad Rafiq was kidnapped two weeks ago reportedly by some relatives of the convict. The police have so far failed to recover him.

Rafiq’s sister-in-law Kulsoom, who is the mother of the slain man, approached the sessions court on Tuesday morning which deferred the execution for two weeks on her request. She told the court that the captors had threatened to kill Rafiq in case Arshad was executed.

It was for the fourth time that Arshad’s execution had been stayed. Earlier, he was granted reliefs by the court on the request of his heirs.