An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore sentenced three individuals—Amna Urooj, Zeeshan Qayyum, and Mamnoon Haider—to seven years imprisonment each for their involvement in the kidnapping and extortion of screenwriter Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.
The verdict, delivered by ATC Judge Arshad Javed on Monday, followed a high-profile trial stemming from a July 2023 incident.
The court convicted the trio for luring Qamar to a residence under false pretenses, secretly recording him, and orchestrating his abduction for ransom. Eight others—Hassan Shah, Tanveer Ahmad, Qaisar Abbas, Rasheed Ahmad, Falak Sher, Mian Khan, Yasir Ali, and Javed Iqbal—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The case emerged when Qamar reported being abducted after visiting Urooj’s apartment, ostensibly to discuss a professional project. Held for several days, he was released following a ransom demand.
A police investigation, initiated after Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s complaint on July 21, 2023, led to multiple arrests. The prosecution described the incident as a calculated financial scheme, with Qamar’s legal team advocating for severe penalties.
The defense presented a contrasting narrative, alleging Qamar’s manager initiated contact with Urooj, which later turned personal. Urooj’s counsel claimed Qamar pressured her for a relationship, threatening to leak photographs, and that both were abducted by Hassan Shah, who was acquitted. Urooj also alleged police coercion in labeling the case a honey trap.
In a related development, a petition by Urooj’s mother, Zainat Bibi, to file a case against Qamar was withdrawn during a hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Ilyas Rehan. Qamar’s lawyer, Mudasir Chaudhry, noted the petitioner’s intent to amend the application, leading to the matter’s closure for now.
