PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) awarded on Monday double life imprisonment sentences to four convicts for kidnapping a citizen and financing terrorists.
ATC no. 16 was hearing the case against Mukhtiar Ahmed, Naeem, Roohullah and Ali Akbar at Central Jail Karachi.
The accused had allegedly kidnapped Raheel, 25, from Gulistan-e-Johar on February 7, 2018. In a phone call from Afghanistan, the kidnappers demanded Rs350 million for his release, of which Raheel's father paid Rs250 million. The kidnapped man was released three months after the payment was made. The ransom money was allegedly given to Daesh, who used it to fund terrorist activities in the coutnry.
The court found the accused guilty and handed down two life imprisonment sentences as well as nine years of imprisonment for the kidnapping of a citizen. It also ordered that a strategy be developed to generate funds that are available ahead of tim, in order to avoid endangering the lives of citizens who are unable to pay ransom.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2020.
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