KARACHI, June 1: An anti-terrorism court reissued on Thursday non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Akhter Mengal in army personnel hostage-taking case.

The Baloch leader and his four domestic servants were booked in early April on the complaint of Havildar Qurban Ali of the Military Intelligence.

The complainant alleged that he, along with his colleague, was on duty at Khayaban-i-Shamsheer Road, Saba Commercial Area, DHA Phase-5 on April 5. He alleged that 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, Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir on April 8.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ACT-5 ordered the police to arrest Mr Mengal, who is also chief of Balochistan National Party (Mengal), and produce him before the court on June 10.

The process server, who had gone to the residence of the Baloch leader, informed the court that the servant of the accused told him that he was not available at his residence. The judge while re-issuing the NBWs against Mr Mengal directed the process server to go to the residence of the accused along with two witnesses and submit his report.

Defence counsel Ghulam Ali Shah is appearing for the four arrested accused and special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum represented the state.

SENTENCED: The district and sessions judge, South, Saeed Hasan, sentenced on Thursday two drug traffickers to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life.Abdul Wahab and Mohammed Bashir were arrested on June 12, 1999 by the excise police who seized one kilogram heroin from them. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs25,000 on Wahab and Rs50,000 on Bashir.