Four kidnappers convicted in Pindi ransom case

Five most-wanted gang operatives killed in earlier encounters; victim recovered safely

RAWALPINDI:

A local court on Friday handed down sentences to four members of a dangerous interprovincial kidnapping gang, which was involved in the abduction for ransom of a well-known property consultant from the jurisdiction of Rawat Police Station.

Five other key operatives linked to the group had previously been killed in two separate police encounters.

According to a police spokesperson, the convicted men - Mobeen Yousaf, Manzoor Hussain, Irfan Hussain and Ali Badshah - were each sentenced under Sections 365 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to two years' imprisonment and fined Rs500,000 each.

The court also awarded an additional two-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs100,000 to Ali Badshah on charges of illegal possession of firearms.

Police said the gang had abducted a prominent property consultant in November 2023 with the intention of extorting millions of rupees in ransom. Following the incident, Rawalpindi Police successfully recovered the victim unharmed through what officials described as modern policing techniques and effective investigation.

Authorities further stated that police teams came under heavy gunfire during operations conducted to apprehend the suspects. In two separate encounters, five of the gang's most wanted members were killed.