Lahore, April 14, 2025: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday sentenced three individuals to seven years in prison each for their involvement in the kidnapping-for-ransom of renowned screenwriter Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed delivered the verdict after previously reserving judgment in the high-profile case that emerged in mid-2023.
The convicts — Amna Urooj, Zeeshan Qayyum, and Mamnoon Haider — were found guilty of luring Qamar to a private residence under false pretenses, secretly recording him, and orchestrating his abduction to demand ransom. The prosecution argued the crime was financially motivated, and Qamar’s legal team had pressed for the death penalty.
Eight other co-accused, including Hassan Shah — described by the defence as the alleged mastermind — were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Those cleared of charges included Tanveer Ahmad, Qaisar Abbas, Rasheed Ahmad, Falak Sher, Mian Khan, Yasir Ali, and Javed Iqbal.
The case dates back to July 2024, when Qamar was allegedly abducted after being invited to Urooj’s apartment under the guise of a professional meeting. He was released days later, and on July 21, filed a formal complaint with police. The investigation led to a series of arrests and intense media scrutiny.
In a related legal development, a petition filed by Amna Urooj’s mother, Zainat Bibi, seeking registration of a case against Qamar, was withdrawn. During a hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Ilyas Rehan, Qamar’s lawyer, Mudasir Chaudhry, informed the court that the petitioner had chosen to withdraw the application for amendments. The court accepted the request, effectively closing the matter for now.
The defence presented a contrasting narrative during the trial. Urooj’s legal counsel alleged that Qamar’s manager had initially contacted her for a professional collaboration that later turned personal. They claimed Qamar arrived intoxicated at a subsequent meeting and coerced Urooj into a physical relationship, threatening to leak private photographs upon her refusal.
Urooj also alleged that she and Qamar were both later abducted by Hassan Shah, and claimed she was tortured in police custody into admitting her role in the honey trap scheme.
Despite the defence’s version, the court found Urooj, Qayyum, and Haider guilty of conspiracy and abduction with criminal intent. The case has sparked wide debate on privacy, celebrity vulnerability, and the legal treatment of digital entrapment.
