KARACHI, Nov 27: The Sindh High Court on Monday modified the death sentence into life term awarded to three men by an Anti- Terrorism Court in a kidnapping-for- ransom case.

According to the prosecution, the appellants had allegedly kidnapped Adnan Ali, son of Muhammad Ali, in a car (AMM-0153) on September 26, 2003 in the jurisdiction of Sir Syed police station, North Nazimabad.

The kidnappers/appellants -- Muhammad Ali, Khalid Abbas and Nadeem alias Katta -- demanded Rs1 million in ransom but agreed to release the victim for Rs30,000.

Appellant Khalid Abbas, who was to receive the ransom money, was arrested by police on Fazal Elahi Road while his accomplice Nadeem alias Katta escaped.

The judge, Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3, convicted the appellants in the case on December 15, 2003 and awarded death penalties to Khalid Abbas and Muhammad Ali.

The other appellant Nadeem alias Katta was convicted and awarded death sentence in the case by the same court on August 2, 2005.

The division bench comprising Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery and Justice Yasmeen Abbasey, after hearing the case, modified the death punishment into life term and dismissed the appeals.

Advocate Khawaja Naveed appeared for Nadeem, Advocate Abdul Qadir Halipota represented Muhammad Ali while Advocate Farooq Ahmed pleaded the case of appellant Khalid Abbas.—APP