KARACHI, May 18: An anti-terrorism court dismissed on Thursday an application of the defence counsel seeking transfer of a case against former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Akhter Mengal and four others to an ordinary court.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-V put off till May 24 the hearing of the case which pertained to the hostage-taking of two personnel of the Military Intelligence.

The Baloch Sardar has been declared absconder while his four servants were arrested in the case, registered on the complaint of Havildar Qurban Ali.

The complainant alleged that he, along with his colleague, was on duty at the Khayaban-i-Shamsheer Road, Saba Commercial Area, DHA Phase-5 on April 5, and around 7:55am, Sardar Akhter Mengal came out of his bungalow and ordered his servants to take them inside the bungalow where they were beaten up. The servants also allegedly snatched their money, national identity cars and service cards. The police arrested the four servants on April 8.

The judge dismissed the transfer application after hearing the arguments from the two sides.