QUETTA: A special anti-terrorism court on Thursday awarded death sentences to three accused and jail terms to two others in a case of kidnapping for ransom and killing of a 10-year-old boy.

Special Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abdul Majeed Nasar announced the verdict after completing hearing of the case against the accused. The court announced death sentences twice for the three accused — Mohammad Mehdi, Dawood Shahzed and Iftikhar Ahmed.

The court awarded life imprisonment to Mohammad Baqir and seven-year imprisonment to Roohullah. All the accused were present in the court when the judgement was announced.

According to prosecution, 10-year-old Ali Sher was kidnapped on Feb 15, 2021, from the shop of his father in Hazara Town. After a few days, the kidnappers in a telephone call demanded Rs30 million ransom from the boy’s family for his release.

The family informed the police. The kidnappers later killed Ali Sher and burnt his body in a bid to hide the crime. The charred body was found from a seasonal nullah near Saranan area of Pishin district.

Police registered a case against unidentified kidnappers and started investigation. They later arrested the accused who confessed to kidnapping and killing the boy.

Deputy Prosecutor Zahid Ali Khan appeared in the court on behalf of the prosecution. Mohammad Baqir, who is just 17-year-old, is a close relative of the deceased boy and he made the plan for his kidnapping with his four friends.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2022