ATC accepts challan in Dua Mangi case

Challan states Mangi was released after her father paid Rs2.5m in ransom

KARACHI:

The administrative judge of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) accepted on Saturday the challan in the Dua Mangi kidnap case.

The investigation police submitted the challan in the court, which stated that Mangi's father paid the kidnappers Rs2.5 million for her release. It added that Mangi was kept chained up at a flat in Rufi Beach, Clifton, by the kidnappers, where Bisma Saleem, another girl who was abducted in a high-profile case last year, was also held.

Moreover, five accused were arrested in the case and had confessed to the crime, the challan maintained.

The hearing will be conducted in ATC-2 on July 7.

Mangi was kidnapped by armed men in Defence Housing Authority in November, 2019.

Facilitating JeM

Separately, ATC-12 issued notices to the education secretary, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general, K-Electric director and Sui Southern Gas Company general manager, summoning them in personal capacity at the next hearing of a case pertaining to financial assistance by a seminary to banned outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).

The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) disclosed details about the illegal occupation and construction of the seminary building, with its additional land director, Khalid Zafar Hashmi, submitting a reply stating it was built on a 1,400 yard, illegally occupied plot in Surjani Town.

The court expressed surprise that the seminary was built without SBCA approval and was recognised by the education department despite being illegal. Asking the KDA lawyer who allowed the construction, the court said it should be informed how the education department deputed its representative as the seminary administrator as well as how electricity, gas and other utility connections were provided to a building constructed without SBCA approval.

The investigation officer informed the court that two accused, Muhammad bin Shehzad and Rehan Ahmed, were on the run. He added that he discovered during the investigation that the seminary was constructed by JeM through illegal funding. He claimed the accused were training seminary students for JeM, while the funds earned by the seminary were used to facilitate JeM.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2020.