HYDERABAD, Jan 22: The uncle of a hostage has identified before the Anti-Terrorism Court a leader of PPP-SB as the man who had facilitated the release of his nephew from the captivity of dacoits and was paid Rs1.5 million ransom for the dacoits.

Alam Khaskheli, the uncle of Araj Ameen, said that while he was sitting in a car, his friend Shareef had handed over the amount to PPP-SB leader Amir Bux Umrani.

He claimed that when his nephew and his driver were kidnapped, he approached Umrani through a friend but he expressed his inability to do anything for the hostages’ release.

He added that later he took the murshid (spiritual leader) of Umrani to his residence in Qasimabad. Only then Umrani agreed to use his influence.

He said that Umrani later told them that the dacoits were demanding Rs1.5 million for the hostages’ release.

The witness said that with Shareef and the ransom amount he went to the residence of Umrani and his friend gave the amount to him.

The hostages were released after a delay of two days.

Khaskheli claimed that he again met Umrani to express his gratitude. He was informed by Umrani that he had managed to get concession of Rs100,000 in the ransom deal and the amount was given to him.

He added that some people told him that the amount had been kept by Umrani but he did not believe this statement.

The father of the hostage, Ameen Khaskheli, ASI Ghulam Ali and police constable Safdar also recorded their statements.

Charges in the case were framed against four accused on Saturday.

The accused include Ali Gul, Rahib Thebo, Mithal, Mir Shahnawaz and Amir Bux Umrani. The case against them was lodged with Bhitai Nagar police station on Dec 16 after Arij Ameen, the son of a forest department official, Ameen Khaskheli, and his driver, Khamiso Qambrani were kidnapped near Qasimabad grid station.

The court has earlier recorded the statements of Arij and the driver.