PESHAWAR, Aug 29: A local court on Monday acquitted two persons charged with the kidnapping of a leading physician as the doctor did not press the charges against them.

The court of additional district and sessions judge, Asad Hameed Bangash, accepting an application filed by the two accused, Khaliqdad and Dilawar Khan, filed under section 265-K of Code of Criminal Procedure. The said section empowers the trial court to acquit an accused before conclusion of the trial when there is no probability of his or her conviction keeping in view the available evidence.

Advocate Arbab Fakhre Alam appeared for the accused persons and contended that they were falsely implicated in the case. He argued that there was no evidence against them and the kidnapped doctor, Intikhab Alam, had also stated that they were not involved in his abduction.

He requested the court to accept the application contending that looking at the evidence on record there was no possibility of the conviction of the accused persons

The physician was kidnapped from his private health facility, Tashfeen Hospital, here on Oct 7, 2010. The complainant in the case was a fellow doctor, Miran Shah, who alleged that the kidnappers were boarding a vehicle carrying official registration plate.

The complainant stated that the kidnappers entered the hospital, hand-cuffed Dr Intikhab Alam and took him away. Initially, he added, they presumed that it was a raid by FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) but later on they came to know that he was kidnapped for ransom. — Bureau Report