KARACHI, Nov 20: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Wednesday judgment in a kidnapping for ransom case.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Nov 23 for announcement of the judgment after hearing the final arguments from the prosecution and defence sides.

Three men, Habibullah, Bashir Ahmed and Sultan Ahmed, were prosecuted for kidnapping a 15-year-old boy for ransom on Aug 20.

According to the prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa, the three accused, with an absconding accused, kidnapped Najeeb Ullah, son of Naik Mohammed, while he was playing outside his house in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

It was alleged that the accused, riding in a white car, kidnapped the boy and kept him in a house at Abdullah Gabol Goth, Gulshan-i-Maymar. They allegedly phoned the father of the hostage and demanded Rs3 million for his release.

Naik Mohammed deposed in the court that the kidnappers had initially demanded Rs3 million. However, he said, his family agreed to pay Rs500,000 for his son’s release after three days of negotiations over phone.

He deposed that he had told the kidnappers that he would pay the ransom in instalments. He said on Aug 24 he went to a desolate place in Super Highway as asked by the kidnappers. He said he gave Rs110,000 to the kidnappers, who, however, did not release his son and asked him to pay the remaining amount.

He said on his way back he spotted the car of the kidnappers at a house in Gulshan-i-Maymar. He said he immediately informed police and a police party arrested the three kidnappers and recovered his son following a shootout with them.

The special public prosecutor also examined the owner of the house, where the kidnapped boy was kept. Kher Mohammed, the house owner, told police that the accused had illegally and forcibly occupied his house.