SARGODHA, March 20: Five under-trial prisoners on Tuesday escaped from police custody after killing a cop escorting them from court to Shahpur jail near Khushab.

Reports said Mahboob was awarded death penalty by a Khushab additional district and sessions judge in Joharabad on 18th instant while Maqbool was handed down life term.

Escorted by five policemen, the prisoners were bringing back to Shahpur jail when Maqbool threw chilly powder in the eyes of the policemen, snatched arms from them and resorted to firing.

Cop Shafqat died while six others, including four policemen, sustained grievous injuries.

Those escaped include Mahboob, Maqbool, Mukhtar Shah, Nasrullah and Pervez Bhatti.

The injured policemen were Alam Sher, Ramzan, Ashiq Ali and Attaullah.

Sources said Shah was involved in a murder case the judgement for which was expected on Tuesday.

The Khushab police claimed four of the five absconders had been arrested by the police but Mahboob was still at large.

Another source claimed exchange of fire between the police crew and the accused in custody occurred on the Khushab-Sargodha Road where traffic was stuck for at least half an hour.

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