KARACHI, Jan 18: An anti-terrorism court dismissed on Tuesday an application of the police seeking release of three accused in a kidnapping for ransom case.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 ordered the investigation officer to submit the final charge sheet against accused Mushtq Jatoi, Hassam Uddin Langah and Asghar Tanasro within three days.

The IO, Sub-inspector Manzoor Ahmed of the Anti-violent Crim Cell (AVCC), had sought the release of the three accused under Section 169 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The case pertained to the kidnapping of Dr Abdul Ghafoor Bhutto, director of a marketing company, who was released after payment of Rs2.9 million.

Five armed men kidnapped Mr Bhutto near Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Nov 17, 2004 when he was going to his residence in the DHA. Next day the Sharea Faisal police registered the case against unknown culprits on the complaint of Ijaz, the brother of victim's wife.

The kidnappers initially demanded Rs250 million. However, after a series of negotiations, they accepted Rs2.9 million and released the victim on December 18, 2004. Later, the AVCC arrested the accused, one of whom had acted as a middleman and received the ransom in three instalments.