KARACHI, Jan 5: The defence counsel for former chief minister of Balochistan Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Raza Hashmi, moved an application on Friday in an anti-terrorism court seeking better class for his client in the jail.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 issued notice to special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum for hearing the arguments on January 8 on the application. The arrest of former chief minister in the army men hostage-taking case was effected on December 24.

The defence counsel submitted that his client was entitled to be lodged in a better class in the prison as he was a former chief minister of Balochistan and a landlord.

Earlier, the defence counsel had moved an application before the court praying to it to order the jail authorities to shift Sardar Mengal to hospital as he was seriously ill.

However, jail authorities submitted a report to the court that the under trial prisoner’s health was in a good condition and he did not need hospitalisation.

The ATC-5, which had convicted four domestic servants of Sardar Mengal in the instant case, had declared the Baloch leader an absconder.

The judge had sentenced Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir to a 10-year term and fine of Rs20,000 each under Section 7-B of the Anti-terrorist Act for torturing two army men hostage.

The four accused had also been handed down a five-year term and a fine of Rs10,000 each under Section 7-H of the ATA for depriving them of their personal belongings.

Another five-year term and a fine of Rs10,000 each had been given to the four accused under Section 7-I of the ATA for preventing the two army men from executing their official duties.

The prosecution examined 12 prosecution witnesses in the case.

Complainant Havaldar Qurban Hussain of the Military Intelligence alleged that on April 5 he along with his colleague Lance Naik Fayyaz Ahmed was on duty at Khayaban-i-Shamsheer, Saba Commercial Area, when Mr Mengal’s servants kidnapped them and made them hostage.

It was alleged that Sardar Akhtar Mengal kidnapped the army personnel with an intention to kill them when army personnel were going to their duty.

Complainant Qurban Hussain submitted in his FIR that they were made hostage at the DHA residence of Sardar Akhtar Mengal for two hours and were subjected to torture.

He alleged that around 7:55am Sardar Akhtar Mengal came out of his bungalow and ordered his servants to take them inside the bungalow where they were beaten up. The servants also allegedly snatched money from them, national identity cards and service cards. The police arrested the four servants on April 8.