KARACHI, May 2: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Thursday two men to life term for kidnapping a seven-year-old boy for ransom.

Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon of the ATC-2 also ordered the confiscation of the entire movable and immovable property of Masroof and Shaukat, who had kidnapped Muhammed Younus, son of Muhammed Hanif, on January 9 in the limits of the Baloch Colony police.

Both kidnappers, who demanded Rs500,000 for the release of the captive, were servants of Muhammed Hanif, the owner of an icecream factory. Hanif had quit the job, while Masroof was still working with the factory owner when he kidnapped the boy.

They first took the boy to a house in Azam Basti and stayed there overnight. Then they took the victim to the house of Sajjad Hussain, a man hailing from their hometown in Azad Kashmir, in Orangi Town.

However, Sajjad did not connive with the kidnappers and he brought the boy to his home.

The police arrested Masroof and registered a case against him and his co-accomplice, Shaukat, who was also arrested.

The prosecution, represented by Mazhar Qayyum, examined in all 13 prosecution witnesses, including Sajjad Hussain and his brother, Arif.

Besides, the victim boy also identified the two accused as his kidnappers before the court.

ACQUITTED: The district and sessions judge, Central, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, acquitted three men in a robbery case.