Verdict out: ATC sentences kidnapper to death

Accomplice was awarded life imprisonment in kidnapping, murder case

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday awarded death sentence to a man found guilty of kidnapping and murdering a child three years ago, while his co-accused was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Muhammad Muneer and Jalal were accused of kidnapping seven-year-old Sohail, son of Babul, from Bangali Para in Buffer Zone on October 31, 2011. According to the prosecution, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs50,000 from Sohail's family. The investigators told the court that the accused initially kept the boy at a farmhouse for three days, and later took him to Gadani, where they killed him by smashing his head in an attempt to hide his identity after the family failed to pay the ransom.

On November 9, 2011, investigators managed to track down Muneer and Jalal through their call records. Gabol Town police registered a case of kidnapping and murder against them on the complaint of the victim's father.

The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty when the court had formally framed charges against them. Both had decided to contest the case and the court examined prosecution witnesses who recorded their testimonies against them.

On Friday, the ATC judge pronounced the verdict, which was previously reserved after hearing the final arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2014.