KARACHI, Oct 11: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case against Afaq Ahmed, the chief of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), till Oct 18 after the superintendent of Malir district jail submitted that the defendant in the case could not be brought to the court from jail due to security reasons.

The case (FIR 21/2001) against the MQM-H chief was registered under Sections 365-A (kidnapping for extorting property etc.), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 381-A (theft of a car or other motor vehicles) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Korangi police station.

According to the police, a resident of Korangi was called at Baitul Hamza, the then headquarters of the MQM-H, and abducted allegedly by Mr Ahmed who also demanded a ransom for his safe release.

Two accused, including former MPA Younus Khan, have already been acquitted for want of evidence in the case.

On Tuesday, the jail superintendent submitted an application stating that the jail authorities had recommended to the home department to conduct the trial inside the penitentiary as he could not be taken out of jail due to security reasons. He requested to put off the hearing till the provincial government issued a notification for conducting the jail trial.