KARACHI: Man awarded death for kidnapping

Published October 23, 2002

KARACHI, Oct 22: A man was sentenced to death and his wife was acquitted on Tuesday by an anti-terrorist court in a kidnapping for ransom case.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-2 also ordered the confiscation of the entire property of Muhammed Kamran who had kidnapped a three-year-old boy on September 5 in New Karachi.

The judge, however, exonerated his wife, Sher Bano, from the charges and ordered her release as the prosecution could not establish its case against her.

According to prosecution, Mohammed Bilal Raza was playing outside his house No. L/296, Sector 11-G, New Karachi, when accused Kamran took him away.

The couple allegedly demanded Rs300,000 for the release of the hostage boy, who was kept at their house in the same vicinity. They were tracked down next day by the police while making phone calls to the hostage’s family for ransom.

Mohammed Akram, father of the kidnapped boy, Muhammad Suleman and Muhammad Siddique, paternal uncles of Bilal, Muhammad Sadiq, operator of a public call office, Muhammed Ismai, landlord of the couple’s rented house, appeared as prosecution witness.

The prosecution was represented by special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa.