Three convicted in playwright's 'honey trap' case

ATC finds trio guilty of luring, abducting Khalilur Rehman Qamar

LAHORE:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday sentenced three individuals to seven years in prison each for their role in the honey-trap and kidnapping-for-ransom case involving renowned screenwriter Khalilur Rehman Qamar.

ATC Judge Arshad Javed delivered the verdict after concluding detailed arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

The convicts - Amna Urooj, Zeeshan Qayyum and Mamnoon Haider - were found guilty of luring Qamar to a private residence, secretly recording him, and orchestrating his abduction for financial gain.

However, the court acquitted five other accused - Hassan Shah, Tanveer Ahmad, Qaisar Abbas, Rasheed Ahmad, and another unnamed individual - citing insufficient evidence to support the charges against them.

The case dates back to July 2023, when Qamar was reportedly invited to Urooj's apartment in Lahore under the guise of discussing a professional collaboration.

Once there, he was abducted, held for ransom, and released after several days. A police complaint filed by Qamar on July 21 led to a high-profile investigation and multiple arrests.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the kidnappers looted Qamar's mobile phone, wristwatch, cash, and forcefully withdrew Rs250,000 from his ATM account.

He further stated that the abductors blindfolded him and abandoned him in a deserted area before fleeing.

Prosecutors termed the act a premeditated and financially motivated scheme, urging the court to consider maximum punishment. However, the court handed down a seven-year sentence to each of the three proven guilty.

The case had drawn significant public and media attention due to Qamar's celebrity status and the audacity of the crime.