Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism court has sentenced three individuals to seven years in prison each in a case involving the famous Pakistani writer and playwright Khalil ur Rehman Qamar.

The case pertains to allegations of trapping him through a honey trap and demanding ransom for his release.

Judge Arshad Javed, while delivering the verdict, stated that the accused Amina Arooj, Mamoon Haider, and Zeeshan were found guilty of demanding ransom and were therefore sentenced to seven years in prison each.

The court acquitted the other suspects in the case due to insufficient evidence.

The court’s decision noted that while there was substantial evidence of ransom demands against the accused, the charge of kidnapping could not be proven.

The court emphasized that the sentence was handed down to deter such crimes and prevent their recurrence in society.

It is noteworthy that the accused were alleged to have lured Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar through a honey trap, kidnapped him, and then demanded ransom. Based on police investigations and the prosecution’s arguments, the court delivered its ruling against the accused.

Background

Renowned writer and playwright Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar became the victim of a chilling incident last year when he was kidnapped by a woman who had planned the abduction through a phone call and demanded ransom for his release.

On the night of July 15, Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar received a call from an unknown number, where a woman claiming to be “Amina Arooj” introduced herself as a fan from England. She expressed interest in creating a drama and invited him to a specific location in Bahria Town, Lahore.

According to Khalil Ur Rehman, he arrived at the location at around 4:30am, where the woman invited him into a room.

After some time, there was a knock on the door, and the woman opened it, claiming it was a “delivery.” At that moment, around seven armed men entered the room. They snatched his purse, ID card, ATM card, and expensive mobile phone.

They also copied data from his phone after taking the password and subjected him to physical abuse.

Read more

ATC sends main suspect in Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar case on remand

Khalil-ur-Rehman honey trap case: Main suspect, Amna, sent on remand

12 arrested for honey-trapping playwright Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar: police

Later, one of the criminals went to withdraw money using his ATM card, taking out Rs267,000. The kidnappers also demanded a ransom of Rs10 million. After Khalil Ur Rehman refused to comply, they blindfolded him, kidnapped him, and took him to several locations where they subjected him to further physical and mental torture.

The kidnappers continued to demand more money, but when they were unable to obtain the amount, they abandoned him at a desolate place and fled. He then managed to return home in his own vehicle.