ATC hands down 23-year jail terms to three extortionists

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court here on Wednesday sentenced three extortionists to 23 years each jail term. The ATC special court judge Muhammad Asif Majeed Awan convicted Noman Butt, Babar Khan, Nisar Kazim belonging to banned Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TPP) for demanding Rs2.5 million ransom from Rana Aamir, a Rawalpindi jeweller.

The judge also ordered attachment of all their movable and immovable properties, beside imposition of Rs120,000 each as fine and Rs50,000 each as compensation.

The three extortionists were arrested by the Waris Khan police on June 19, 2014 for hurling threats to the jeweler to pay the amount otherwise he along with his son will be kidnapped.

The ATC in five separate cases of inciting religious hatred, kidnapping for ransom and terrorism recorded statements of witnesses.  In the case of sectarian hatred, the court sought evidences against Allama Matloob Taqi on Aug 27.

The court acquitted three accused in terrorism case. The court adjourned the hearing in religious hatred case against accused Azizul Haq and accused Akhtar Hayat in kidnapping for ransom case for Aug 24

The ATC issued notices to 54 activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to be present in the court on August 31 for framing charge sheet against them. They were booked under anti-terrorism act for violence at Benazir Bhutto airport during the arrival of PAT chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri.

All the accused were present in the court and the copies of the charge-sheets were distributed among them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2015.