KARACHI, Nov 6: An anti-terrorism court headed by Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon acquitted on Tuesday Asif Masih who was accused of kidnapping for ransom and later killing of two minor boys.

The judge announced his verdict in favour of the accused owing to lack of evidence and anomalies in the prosecution story.

The court also ordered his immediate release if he was not required in any other case.

Special Public Prosecutor Naimat Randhawa appeared on behalf of the state while Advocate Ashfaq Rafiq Janjua represented the accused.

Seven-year-old Sajid Ilyas Masih, son of Ilyas Masih, and nine-year-old Ubaid Riaz Masih, son of Riaz Masih, were kidnapped on May 21 in Christian Para, New Abadi, in the Korangi police limits. The victims’ bodies were found on May 30 in a Korangi locality when their families failed to pay ransom for their release.

It was pointed out by the defence counsel during his arguments that the two bodies were not in a position to be identified and their ages were mentioned as 14 years and 15 years in the autopsy report. However, the two unfortunate boys were aged seven and nine.

According to the prosecution, the boys were allegedly kidnapped by Asif Masih, Rehman Dakait and Asal Din. The police registered an FIR (172/07) under Section 302 (Punishment of Qatl-i-amd) and Section 365-A (Kidnapping or abduction for extorting property, valuable security, etc) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7-e (Punishment for acts of terrorism including the offence of kidnapping for ransom) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

According to the prosecution, one of the kidnappers, who identified himself as Rehman Dakait, demanded a ransom of Rs2 million, saying that he had paid Rs1.5 million for the boys custody. He said he would release the victims in return for Rs2 million, pocketing a cut of Rs500,000.

The victims’ families told the abductors many times that they were unable to pay such a huge amount. According to the prosecution, the kidnappers then killed the boys and disposed of their bodies stuffed in gunny bags.

The area police found the bodies on May 30 and took them to a hospital. Later, the bodies were identified by the parents in the hospital. While the victims were buried after legal formalities, the accused remained untraced. The police later arrested accused Asif Masih.

According to the testimonies by witnesses, including a shopkeeper, Ashiq Masih, who said he had seen both the boys with Asif Masih on May 21. On his return from the shop he saw both the boys with Asif Masih, the witness said.