ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has acquitted Abdul Razzaq in a kidnapping-for-ransom case after giving him the benefit of the doubt, setting aside the life imprisonment sentence imposed by the trial court.
A seven-page judgment authored by Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim noted that there was a land dispute between the parties and that neither the complainant nor any other person had witnessed the alleged kidnapping.
Court Questions Evidence Against Accused
According to the judgment, the recovery of Rs300,000 allegedly linked to the ransom was also considered doubtful. The court noted that the recovered money had no identifying mark establishing that it was ransom money.
The trial court had convicted all four accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment while also ordering the confiscation of their properties. The Lahore High Court later acquitted three of the accused but maintained Abdul Razzaq’s life sentence.
The Supreme Court, however, found that the evidence against Abdul Razzaq did not meet the required standard for conviction and extended to him the benefit of the doubt.
Case Registered in 2014
The kidnapping-for-ransom case was registered in Narowal in 2014.
The Supreme Court’s decision brings an end to Abdul Razzaq’s conviction in the case after approximately 12 years of legal proceedings.
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