An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has sentenced three individuals to seven years in prison for their involvement in the honey trap and kidnapping of renowned playwright Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar. Judge Arshad Javed delivered the verdict on Monday, convicting Amna Urooj, Mamnoon Haider, and Zeeshan Qayyum for luring the writer under false pretenses, abducting him, and demanding a hefty ransom. However, eight other suspects—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 dates back to July 2024, when Qamar, famous for hit dramas like Mere Paas Tum Ho and Pyarey Afzal, was called late at night by a woman identifying herself as Amna Urooj. Claiming to be an admirer from England, she proposed a collaboration on a drama project and invited him to a residence in Lahore’s Bahria Town. Qamar arrived at the location around 4:40 AM, where Urooj welcomed him inside. Shortly after, seven armed men stormed in, confiscating his cash, phone, and bank cards before blindfolding and abducting him. The kidnappers later withdrew over Rs. 200,000 from his account and demanded a Rs. 10 million ransom, threatening to kill him if he refused.
Qamar managed to escape after being held captive for several days and later filed a police complaint, leading to arrests. During the trial, 17 witnesses, including Qamar himself, his friend, police officials, and bank staff, testified. The prosecution argued that the kidnapping was financially motivated and sought the death penalty, but the court ruled that while ransom demands were proven, the kidnapping charge could not be fully established.
The defense presented a conflicting narrative, alleging that Qamar had arrived at a second meeting intoxicated and pressured Urooj for a physical relationship, threatening to leak compromising photos. Urooj’s lawyer also claimed that both she and Qamar were later abducted by Hassan Shah—the alleged mastermind who was ultimately acquitted—and that Urooj was tortured by police into confessing.
In a related legal twist, a petition filed by Urooj’s mother seeking action against Qamar was dismissed after her lawyer withdrew the application for amendments. The court emphasized that the seven-year sentences were meant to serve as a deterrent against such crimes.
Qamar’s ordeal highlights the dangers of honey trap schemes, where victims are lured into compromising situations for extortion or abduction. The verdict closes a high-profile case that had gripped public attention, though questions linger over the acquittals and the contrasting versions of events presented in court.
Also read: We Neither need Marvi Sarmad nor Khalil Ur Rehman
