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KARACHI, Jan 22: An anti-terrorism court charged on Thursday three activists of the banned Kuddamul Islam with collecting donations for "Jihad". It was the first case of its nature since collection of donation by the banned organizations was made an offence involving maximum punishment for 10 years.
The activists of the banned outfit - Farrukh Nafees, Suleman Khan and Nauman - denied the charge and pleaded "not guilty" when Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 formally arraigned them in the case.
The three were arrested on Nov 22, 2003, in front of Masjid-i-Quba in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block-7, where they were collecting donations from passers-by. According to prosecution, Farrukh Nasim, carrying a receipt book, was collecting money from the people and the two others were holding a banner inciting people for a holy war.
The police also seized Rs1,500 from the accused, who are being represented by Nihal Hashmi. The judge adjourned the matter till Jan 24 and ordered the prosecution to produce its witnesses on the next date of hearing.
KIDNAPPING CASE: The same court put off the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case against three accused, including the son of an SSP.
The judge fixed Jan 28 for recording statements of the accused on the application of one of the defence counsel. The case pertained to the kidnapping of a 20-year-old man, who remained captive for 52 days and was released after payment of Rs7 million as ransom.
The three accused were arrested on Nov 1, while five other accused - Ms Natasha alias Sonia, Zeeshan alias Burger, Abu Sufiyan, Haji Mashooq Brohi, and Rafique Jatt son of Dawood Jatt - have been declared absconders by the court.
Syed Raza Abbas Zaidi was allegedly kidnapped on Aug 30 from near Country Club Apartments, Sea View, where he had reached to meet Natasha on her request. The woman had allegedly called the victim on his cellular phone. Next day victim's maternal uncle, Mansoor Javed, lodged the FIR against unknown kidnappers with the Darakhshan police.
According to prosecution, accused Rustum along with absconding accused Zeeshan, Abu Sufiyan and Rafique Jatt kidnapped Syed Raza Abbas as he waited for the woman.
The kidnappers also took away victim's car and later abandoned it within the limits of the Buffer Zone police. The kidnapper initially demanded 20 million as ransom for the release of Raza. However, they agreed to release the victim for a ransom of Rs7 million after a series of negotiations with the family.
It was alleged that the accused was kept at a house owned by absconding accused Haji Mashooq Brohi, who reportedly got the loin's share in the ransom money. Special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, examined nine prosecution witnesses.
FIRING CASE: Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Jan 29 for the hearing of the police camp firing case. The accused was charged with the killing of two police officials at a police picket next to the US consulate, is being represented by Raza Ali Abidi.
