July 31, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424

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LAHORE, July 30: The Punjab government has reportedly suspended Gujranwala DIG Malik Iqbal, Sialkot SSP Amjad Javed Saleemi and an inspector for allegedly failing to properly handle the Sialkot jail incident during which three civil judges were killed and two others injured a few days ago.

The arrest of Sialkot jail’s Deputy Superintendent Malik Iftikhar Awan and Assistant Superintendents Raja Mushtaq and Ghulam Sarwar was also ordered.

The judges were held hostage by five prisoners during an inspection. The hostage-takers were also killed during the shootout with the police.

Official sources informed Dawn on Wednesday that an inquiry committee had been constituted by IGP Syed Masood Shah to look into allegations against the police officers and it would function under Sheikhupura DIG Tariq Saleem Dogar.

Authorities on Wednesday arrested three prison officials, AFP adds.

Deputy Superintendent of the Sialkot Jail Malik Iftikhar Awan, Assistant Superintendent Raja Mushtaq and another prison official, Ghulam Sarwar, had all been detained, a Punjab provincial government official said.