GUJRANWALA, Feb 21: A condemned prisoner, who was to be hanged on Thursday (today), was released from the jail here on Wednesday after next of kin of deceased pardoned him.

According to the prosecution, convict Arif Baig had opened an indiscriminate fire on his rival Sultan Ahmed over a money dispute in Satellite Town on July 27, 1994. But the bullets hit passerby Shahbaz who had died on the spot while four others — Nadim, Shahzad, Akram and Fiaz — suffered injuries. However, Sultan remained unhurt in the firing.

The district and sessions judge had handed down accused Arif Baif death sentence. The Lahore High Court and the apex court also upheld the decision while the president also rejected his clemency appeal.

Men freed: About two dozen men beat up the members of a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team and freed two arrested accused in Hafizabad on Wednesday.

Police said the FIA party arrested Rafaqat Ali alias Ghazali and Imran from Bahawalpur locality and were taking them back to Gujranwala by a private car when they were attacked by the men armed with clubs and iron bars. They freed both the handcuffed accused from their custody and injured party leader Inspector Nadim Ashraf and Constable Muhammad Iqbal.

Hafizabad City police have registered a case and are investigating.