KARACHI, Jan 18: An anti-terrorism court put off the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case of an infant against two accused after recording the statement of a prosecution witness.

Judge Ghulam Ali A. Samtio of the ATC-1 fixed January 24 after the deposition of ASI Javed Akhter who had registered the FIR against accused Khizer Hiyat and Shahzad.

The two were charged with the kidnapping of Abdur Rehman on July 10, last year within the limits of Aziz Bhatti police.

The kidnappers allegedly demanded Rs1 million for the release of the victim. However, they were allegedly tracked by the police who recovered the abducted child from their residence near Dalmia Cement Factory the same night.

Meanwhile, the same court also recorded the statement of a prosecution witness in the kidnapping for ransom case of an 11-year-old boy for ransom.

Kazim Raza is charged with kidnapping the boy on July 17, last year within the limits of Samanabad police. The accused allegedly confinedthe boy in the house of his sister in Federal B. Area.

According to the prosecution, the accused kidnapped the victim as he came out of Madrassah Khairul Amal in Block 20 of the F. B. Area.

It was alleged that he called the family from a public call office next day and demanded Rs1 million for the boy’s release. He was tracked by the police through the PCO phone number.

LAIBA CASE: Judge Ghulam Ali A. Samtio inspected the places where a 2 ½-year-old girl, Laiba, was kidnapped and murdered.

The judge also inspected the place where the accused had received the ransom and the place where the accused dumped her body.

The judge fixed January 22 for hearing the final arguments from the prosecution and defence attorneys.

The case pertained to the kidnapping and murder of 2½-year-old Laiba, daughter of a transporter Rehmatullah,. The victim was kidnapped on April 27 in North Nazimabad and her body found shortly after the ransom amount was paid to her captor.

Later, police arrested 19-year-old Asadullah, first cousin of the girl's father, who lived opposite the girl's house.

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