Kidnap, murder: Death sentence on three counts

FAISALABAD: An Anti-Terrorist Court on Tuesday sentenced a man to death in a kidnapping and murder case. Another convict was handed a six month prison sentence and five others were given benefit of doubt and acquitted of the charges. Judge Ishtiaq Ahmad announced the verdict in court room no1 after hearing witnesses produced by both sides. The judge sentenced Safeer to death on three counts and ordered that his property be confiscated. The court also imposed Rs50,000 fine on him. His brother Rafiq was given a six months prison term and ordered to pay Rs20,000 fine. Safeer and others were arrested by Gulberg police for abducting and killing eight-year-old Ali, grandson of trader Rana Mehmoodul Hasan. The child was kidnapped from Muhamamd Pura on August 22, 2011.  He was killed after the family had contacted police and registered an FIR.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.