KARACHI, Aug 23: Justice Shabbir Ahmed of the Sindh High Court, who is also administrative judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) of the Karachi region, on Saturday extended police remand of five accused in a kidnapping for ransom case of Shell employees till Aug 30.

The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ghulam Nabi of the Anti-Burglary Cell (ABC), Hyderabad, sought further remand of the accused for interrogation and arrest of the co-accused.

According to the remand papers, Yar Muhammed alias Yaroo Palari, Allah Bachayo Noohani, Murtaza Pathan, Abdul Rehman Chandio and Wahid Bux Chandio kidnapped Bashir Hussain Zuberi and Habibuddin, top officials of Shell Pakistan Limited, in the first week of July.

The victims were released on July 25 after payment of a ransom of Rs2.5 million.

Ghulam Qadir Noohani, alleged to be mastermind of the gang and absconder as per remand papers, received the ransom.

The accused were arrested in village Guddo Palari by the Hyderabad police after an encounter.

The same court returned remand request in an alleged case of Bhatta collection (extortion) by the Napier police and directed them to obtain the remand of the accused from the magistrate concerned.

Muhammed Umar alias Babey was arrested on July 16 on a complaint filed by Muhammed Saleem Memon, manufacturer of ‘Qadri Gutka’ who stated that the accused had demanded Rs10,000 from him as a Bhatta.

The police arrested the accused and booked him under section 384/385/386/506-B of CrPC (kidnapping and terrorism etc). — APP