SC orders to acquit kidnapping case accused after 15 yrs

Islamabad: The Supreme Court Tuesday ordered to release the accused Muhammad Shahid after 15 years in the case of kidnap-for-ransom.

According to details, the case was heard in the Supreme Court on the petition to cancel the life sentence of the prisoner involved in the kidnapping for ransom case.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood conducted the hearing.

The petitioner's counsel told the court that the accused Muhammad Shahid was arrested in February 2008 from Bahawalpur in a case of kidnapping for ransom. At the time of arrest, the accused was 15 years old.

Lawyer Rizwan Ejaz took the position that the main suspect in the kidnapping case had escaped from the incident, how can a 15-year-old boy kidnap a child for ransom.

The Supreme Court annulled the decision of Lahore High Court (LHC) and ordered the acquittal of the accused Muhammad Shahid after 15 years.

Court remarked that the accused was convicted on the charge of abduction of a teenage child for ransom. Neighbors, relatives and close ones were involved in the incident. The connection of the incident with terrorism could not be proved.