KARACHI, Nov 11: An anti-terrorism court put off on Saturday the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case after recording the statements of two prosecution witnesses. The case pertained to the kidnapping of an American-Pakistani businessman, Najmul Tariq. The victim’s paternal nephew and a head constable are being prosecuted in the case.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Nov 15 for the next hearing after special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined Inspector Zafar Iqbal of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell and Sub-inspector Rana Ishrat of the investigation branch. The two prosecution witnesses were also cross-examined by defence counsel Mushtaq Ahmed and Nawaz Khan Marwat.

The victim’s paternal nephew, Adeel Mansoor, and a head constable, Khateebur Rehman, are being tried in the case, while two other accused –Saeed Umer and Arsalan– have been declared absconders.

Prosecution witness Zafar Iqbal said he was assigned the investigation of the case on April 10. He said that the investigation was later transferred from him on May 29.

PW Rana Ishrat said that he was the second investigation officer of the case. He said he was given the investigation of the case on May 30. He said on the same day he arrested accused Adeel Mansoor and on his lead he arrested Head Constable Khateeb later in the evening.

According to prosecution, three armed men kidnapped the US-based businessman on April 6, in the parking lot of the Baqai Hospital, Nazimabad.

Accused Khateebur Rehman allegedly showed the victim his official service card and told him that he was under custody before they took him in his car to a seaside hut and demanded from him Rs50 million for his release. It was alleged that Adeel, was also present there, told his uncle that the kidnappers had agreed to an amount of Rs25 million for his release.

The kidnappers allegedly gave him an account number and asked him to deposit the ransom money through a pay order.

Accordingly, the victim got a pay order for Rs25 million prepared from Al Barakah Islami Bank and deposited it to the account number given by the kidnappers.

Later, he told his brother about kidnapping and ransom money. His brother contacted the bank and got the payment stopped.

Later, Najamul Tariq narrated the matter to his friend, Mohammed Zafar, who took him to the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee. Later, the victim lodged an FIR on April 10 against Adeel Mansoor, as he became suspicious of his presence with the kidnappers.

The police started investigation and tracked down Adeel Mansoor as the pay order was deposited in his account.