KARACHI, Oct 27: An anti-terrorism court recorded testimony of the investigation officer in a case pertaining to the kidnapping of a factory owner for ransom on Monday.

The investigation officer, Inspector Mohammad Babar, deposed that complainant Jalaluddin Kaini informed the police that he was kidnapped by four persons, who later agreed to release him on the assurance that he would arrange the ransom and deliver it to them through his driver, Manzar Khan.

The inspector deposed that a team of the anti-violent crime cell of police in plain clothes chased the driver after the complainant handed over the amount to him and asked him to deliver the amount to kidnappers.

He testified that the driver did not meet the accused at all and returned after roaming around for an hour. As soon as the driver told the complainant that he had delivered the ransom to the kidnappers, the police team took the driver into custody and recovered the amount from his shoes.

He said the driver when interrogated disclosed that he along with his associates had planned the kidnapping for ransom. The driver also divulged the whereabouts of other accused. Acting on the information, the police team raided a house in Neelum Colony and arrested Jalal Khan, Maqbool Ahmed and Habib-ur-Rahman. The three accused also confessed to having kidnapped the victim for ransom, according to the investigation officer’s testimony.

The inspector also submitted the data of cellular companies and relevant documents in the court.

Judge Hasan Ali Bukhari of the ATC-I, who is conducting the trial, adjourned the case hearing till Oct 28.

According to the prosecution, Jalal Khan, Maqbool Ahmed and Habib-ur-Rahman kidnapped Jalaluddin Kaini and his driver, Manzar Khan, on March 30, 2007 in the Korangi Industrial Area police limits and demanded Rs50 million for their release. The captive himself settled the ransom with the accused since none of his family member, except elderly parents, was present in the city.

The next day the kidnappers released Mr Jalal on the ground that he would arrange the ransom. The victim arranged the amount and, in the meantime, informed the police about the incident. As he handed over Rs100,000 to his driver, an AVCC team chased the driver who returned without meeting the kidnappers telling the victim that he had handed over the amount. This led to arrest of the driver along with the recovery of ransom. Subsequently, his associates were also picked up.

The charge-sheet said that Manzar Khan had hatched the kidnapping plan and for this purpose he had got the help of his friends. But they released the victim after a settlement as they did not have a proper place to detain him.

A case (FIR No 224/2007) was registered under Section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 against the accused on the complaint of the victim. The prosecution has so far produced around eight witnesses before the court.

Nishtar Park blast

Meanwhile, the anti-terrorism court-II supplied the copy of statements and documents to the three accused in a case pertaining to the Nishtar Park blast that claimed more than 50 lives and left over 100 others injured.

The court adjourned the hearing till Nov 6 for the indictment of the accused.

The incident took place at Nishtar Park where an Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) congregation was being held on April 11, 2006. An FIR (71/2006) of the case was registered at the Soldier Bazaar police station under Sections 302, 324, 109, 120-B, 114/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 3/4 of the Explosive Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The court had earlier sent accused Sultan alias Mahmood, Rahmatullah and Mufti Zakir Hussain Siddiqui in jail custody for their alleged involvement in the case. Mohammad Amin, Amanullah, Mohammad Khalid, Qari Abid and Mohammad Sadiq have been declared absconders.

A charge-sheet of the case was submitted in July 2007. There are about 116 prosecution witnesses in the case.