Reversal: SHC converts seven convicts’ death sentence to life term

They had been found guilty of kidnapping a boy for ransom

KARACHI: Seven convicts got a new lease on life as the Sindh High Court (SHC) commuted the death sentences awarded to them in a student's kidnapping-for-ransom case into life imprisonment.

Headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, the anti-terrorism appellate bench pronounced its verdict, which was reserved earlier after hearing arguments from the convicts' lawyer and the state prosecutor.

An anti-terrorism court had sentenced Kalimullah, Arshad Pervaiz, Muhammad Siddique, Bilal, Fateh Muhammad, Muhammad Hasan and Ali Ahmed to death in a kidnapping-for-ransom case. The court had found them guilty of kidnapping a junk dealer's son in Shah Faisal Colony on May 24, 2004.

The prosecution alleged that the seven accused, riding in a Toyota Corolla car, intercepted the victim, Kamran, near Nauman Public School where he had gone to drop his sister on his motorcycle. He was forced to sit in the car at gunpoint, while two of the accused took away his motorcycle.

Investigators had claimed that the accused had initially demanded Rs2 million for the release of the 18-year-old from his father, Ikramuddin, a Shershah-based junk dealer. However, later they agreed to accept Rs500,000 as ransom.

The victim was kept at Siddique's house in Safoora Goth, before he was released after the payment of the agreed ransom at Civil hospital. Six months later, the police tracked them down.

Appealing against their death sentence, the convicts argued that the trial court had failed to mention their statements in the judgment, which was contrary to the legal provisions and fair trial.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th,  2015.