04 January 2004	Sunday	11 Ziqa'ad 1424

TANK, Jan 3: An accused in a murder case succeeded in escaping from police custody with the help of his relatives after injuring one cop.

On Saturday morning the accused in a murder case Zar Ali, son of Qutub Khan Bittani was brought from Dera Ismail Khan's central jail by a police party to the District and Sessions Court in Tank, in connection with the hearing of the case.

Zar Ali is accused of murdering Syed Badshah, son of Mir Abbas Bittani in front of the Tank Civil Hospital, on Nov 7, 2002 and was arrested there red-handed by police.

After the court proceedings, one hawaldar and two other policemen from Dera Ismail Khan were escorting the accused in a public bus, under their custody back to the central jail.

But, as soon as they stepped out of the bus at Wana pickup stand, Dera Ismail Khan, five relatives of Zar Ali armed with pistols attacked the police party and succeeded in freeing the accused, and escaped in a pickup. One constable, named Nazir, was seriously injured.

Dera Ismail Khan police have arrested Qutub Khan, the father of the accused, and police sources said he has disclosed the names of the five accomplices involved. Police parties have blocked all roads, but no arrests have been made so far.-APP