KARACHI, Sept 2: Prosecution in army personnel hostage-taking trial against four employees of former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal rested its case before anti-terrorism court in Karachi after deposition of investigation officer on Saturday.

The Anti-Terrorism Court, headed by Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch, which declared chief of Balochistan National Party (Akhtar Mengal) as absconder, is conducting trial against Akhtar's four employees Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir for kidnapping two army personnel and making them hostage on April 5, 2006 in Karachi.Investigation Officer of the case Munir Chandio, who conducted investigation of the case, recorded his statement. He was cross examined by defence counsel Abdul Wahab Baloch.

According to prosecution, Sardar Akhtar Mengal along with others kidnapped army Havaldar Qurban Hussain and Lance Naik Fayaz Ahmed from Darakshan area with intention to kill them on April 5, 2006 when army personnel were going to their intelligence duty.Qurban Hussain alleged in the FIR that they were made hostage at the house of Akhtar Mengal in Khayban-i-Shamsheer area of Defence for two hours and they were subjected to torture before their release.The hearing of trial has been adjourned for Sept 7 for recording the statement of the accused and defence witnesses.

REMANDED: Administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts in Karachi on Saturday remanded a suspect to police custody till Sept 7 for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping and killing case.

Nisar Ahmed, 35, with other absconding co-accused, is charged with kidnapping Ghulam Murtaza Lund for ransom on Nov 20, 2005, from Sachal area and later killing him on failure to receive ransom amount.

According to the police, the accused demanded Rs50 million for release of abductee from his family members which they could not pay. Later, the body of the abductee was found from Bhit Shah in Mithiari.

The suspect was produced before AJ Justice Amir Hani Muslim of Sindh High Court for obtaining his remand.

Granting police remand of the accused, the AJ ordered the investigation officer to produce him on the next date of hearing.

Earlier, Sub-Inspector Ghulam Sarwar Malah was arrested in the said case but he was released on bail as sufficient evidence was not found against him.—PPI

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