KARACHI, May 29: An anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case against Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) chief Afaq Ahmed on Tuesday.

The accused did not appear in court for a lack of security.

Mr Ahmed along with his accomplices has been charged with abducting an officer of now defunct Karachi Development Authority in May 2001 in Korangi and demanding a ransom for his safe release.

The accused, through his counsel, moved an application in court to condone his absence since he could not appear in court for a lack of security.

Meanwhile, the court took the application of Mr Ahmed about exemption from in person appearance. The counsel for complainant, Mushtaq Ahmed, opposed the plea stating that Section 540-A of the criminal procedure code stated that the applicant could only be granted an exemption if there were two or more accused, but the said the plea may be heard in the presence of the applicant.Judge Khalida Yasin of the ATC-II, who is conducting the trial, put off the hearing till July 10 with a direction to the defence counsel to produce a high court order regarding security to Afaq Ahmed.

A case (FIR 201/2001) was registered under Section 365-A (kidnapping to extort money) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Korangi police station.

The acquittal application moved by the accused under Section 265-K (power of court to acquit accused at any stage) of the CrPC is pending in court.