KARACHI, Oct 28 An anti-terrorism on Tuesday court recorded the statements of the accused in a case pertaining to the kidnapping of a factory owner for ransom.

Manzar Khan, Maqbool Ahmed, Habib-ur-Rahman and Jalal Khan are facing charges of kidnapping Jalaluddin Kiani, the factory owner, for ransom in the jurisdiction of the Korangi Industrial Area police station.

Appearing before the bench, the accused claimed that they had nothing to do with the kidnapping and alleged that the police had implicated them in the case.

Manzar Khan, the victim's driver, testified that he was also kidnapped along with the complainant and the police implicated him in the case while he had no link with the alleged kidnappers.

Judge Hasan Ali Bukhari of the ATC-I, who is conducting the trial, adjourned the hearing till Oct 30.

According to the prosecution, Jalal Khan, Maqbool Ahmed and Habib-ur-Rahman kidnapped Jalaluddin Kaini and his driver, Manzar Khan, on March 30, 2007 in the Korangi Industrial Area police limits and demanded Rs50 million for their release. The captive himself settled the ransom with the accused since none of his family member, except elderly parents, was present in the city.

The next day the kidnappers released Mr Jalal on the ground that he would arrange the ransom. The victim arranged the amount and, in the meantime, informed the police about the incident. As he handed over Rs100,000 to his driver, an AVCC team chased the driver who returned without meeting the kidnappers telling the victim that he had handed over the amount. This led to the arrest of the driver along with the recovery of ransom. Subsequently, his associates were also picked up.

The charge-sheet said that Manzar Khan had hatched the kidnapping plan and for this purpose he had got the help of his friends. But they released the victim as they did not have a proper place to detain him.

A case (FIR No 224/2007) was registered under Section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 against the accused on the complaint of the victim. The prosecution has so far produced around eight witnesses in court.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Oct 30 when final arguments from both sides would be recorded.

Kidnap, murder case

The same anti-terrorism court recorded the testimony of a prosecution witness in a case pertaining to the kidnapping of a five-year boy and his driver and murder of the latter.

Nisar Ahmed, Shahzad Masih, and Munir Masih were charged with kidnapping Mohammad Rehan, and driver Irfan along with their vehicle on Oct 2, 2007 in the Frere police limits they demanded Rs500,000 as a ransom. After receiving the amount, they released the boy but allegedly killed the driver.

Constable Lal Hussain Shah informed the court that he had collected the cellphone data as well as audio tape's copy of the conversation that took place between the captive and the accused from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee.

Before the investigation officer could testify, the defence counsel requested the judge to provide the copies of audio conversation and cellphone data. However, when the court asked him to provide any provision in law in order to obtain such copies, the defence counsel sought some time.

The case hearing was adjourned till Wednesday.

A case (FIR No 222/07) against the accused was registered under Sections 365-A and 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the boy's father, Shahid.