SC Acquits Man Serving Life Sentence in 13-Year-Old Boy’s Kidnapping Case
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 19th Aug, 2026) The Supreme Court has acquitted Abdul Razzaq, who was serving a life sentence for kidnapping a 13-year-old boy for ransom, giving him the benefit of doubt. The court held that the prosecution case was not strong enough to sustain the conviction due to material contradictions, weaknesses, and suspicious circumstances.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, in a judgment issued after hearing the case on August 11, accepted Abdul Razzaq’s jail petition and set aside the judgments and sentences passed by the subordinate courts.
Key Findings:
- The prosecution relied heavily on allegations of a phone call where Abdul Razzaq demanded Rs 10 million as ransom, later reduced to Rs 500,000.
- However, the court noted that the money allegedly given to Abdul Razzaq was unmarked, and the recovery of unmarked currency did not constitute conclusive proof of ransom.
- There was no voice recording of the alleged ransom conversation, leaving the content and nature of the calls unestablished.
- The court questioned the prosecution’s claim that school items belonging to the boy were recovered on Abdul Razzaq’s tip, stating these items were ordinary and no identification parade was conducted.
- The court also noted weaknesses in the evidence against Abdul Razzaq, as other accused persons had already been acquitted due to similar issues.
- The boy’s medical examination on May 8, 2014, showed him to be healthy and fit, raising doubts about the 17-day confinement claim.
In summary, the Supreme Court found sufficient reasonable doubt in the case to acquit Abdul Razzaq.
