The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted an accused of abduction for ransom as the prosecution failed to produce evidence throughout the proceedings of the matter. An anti-terrorism court of Lahore had awarded death penalty to Muhammad Shahid under the charges of abducting Nisar Ahmed, 23, for ransom in 2011. Shahid challenged the capital punishment before Lahore High Court which upheld the punishment.
Taking up the appeal against the LHC's decision in the matter, a three-member bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa acquitted Shahid on the grounds that prosecution failed to substantiate its case in the matter. Justice Khosa observed neither the abduction was reported to police nor the abducted person was recovered from the custody of the accused, saying the police story seemed to be fabricated in the current case.
The bench also noted a point before issuing order in the case that LHC had earlier acquitted the nominated accomplice in the crime. Meanwhile, the bench acquitted an accused of triple murder in District Attock for old enmity whereas upheld the High Court's verdict of capital punishment to his partner in the crime.