Three police officers posted as guards at Adiala jail have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a Rawalpindi prisoner escape, police said on Wednesday.
The prisoner, identified as Hammad, reportedly escaped while being transported to Jhelum jail after appearing before a court in Rawalpindi. Police said he was involved in serious criminal cases.
The arrested officials were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Tauqeer Hussain, Head Constable Mahboob Khan and Constable Qasim. Their arrests were ordered by Rawalpindi City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera.
According to the police case, the three officers allegedly conspired with the prisoner and asked the van driver to stop at a hotel along the GT Road near Mandra. The prisoner and officers reportedly left the vehicle there.
Police said three accomplices joined them at the hotel and were allegedly preparing to use a car for the escape. The van driver alerted Mandra police, who reached the location as the group attempted to flee.
According to the first information report, the prisoner and his accomplices opened fire when police signalled them to stop. One accomplice, identified as Danial, was arrested and an AK-47 was recovered from his possession, while other suspects escaped.
Police said the prisoner had allegedly been accused of killing an Adiala jail official. The Rawalpindi prisoner escape has prompted further investigation, while the police van has also been taken into custody. The incident follows another prisoner-van escape involving 14 under-trial prisoners in June.
