Kidnapping charges: ATC remands police officer into jail

The suspects Muhammad Dilshad from his shop in Muhammadi Colony

KARACHI: The anti-terrorism courts’ administrative judge remanded on Thursday a police officer and his accomplice in a kidnapping case.

Inspector Punhal Shah and Boota were arrested on November 15 by the police while they were allegedly collecting ransom money for the release of a fish trader.

According to the prosecution, the suspects kidnapped Muhammad Dilshad from his shop in Muhammadi Colony and deprived him of his mobile phone, cash and a cheque of Rs200,000.

Later, they released the trader and asked him to arrange an additional Rs200,000 and give it to them. The arrest was made at a time when they were collecting the said amount from the trader in Mauripur area.

The investigating officer sought the custody of the suspects on physical remand for two weeks, contending that their two accomplices have yet to be arrested. The judge, however, allowed the police the custody of the suspects for three days and sought a progress report on November 20.

The case is registered under Sections 365-A (kidnapping for ransom), 506-B (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at Docks police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2016.