Main suspects get bail in Karachi girl kidnaping case

A judge granted bail to two main suspects accused of luring a minor girl of Karachi to Lahore with an intention to kidnap her.

Additional District and Sessions Judge East issued a written order on three petitions related to the bail of accused Zaheer and Shabbir, meeting the victim, and taking statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court rejected the request of accused Zaheer Ahmed to meet the abductee. The lawyer of the accused has failed to explain purpose of the meeting with abductee, the judge said.

However, the court granted bail to both the accused, Zaheer and Shabbir, on a bond of Rs200,000 each, with remarks that the bail is not at all meant to benefit the accused; they will continue to face the case. The prosecution can challenge the decision regarding to grant bail to the accused if necessary.

The court rejected a plea to record statement of the abductee under Section 164 of Penal Code. The written judgment said record shows that the abductee has voluntarily recorded her statement under 164 therefore, there is no purpose to record the statement of the abductee for the second time.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2022.