April 14, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1429

RAWALPINDI, April 13: A police constable who was shot and injured during a dramatic escape of a convicted prisoner on Saturday died at the District Headquarters Hospital early on Sunday morning, police said.

Sadiq Azeem was shot and injured under mysterious circumstances when the convicted prisoner Badar Abbas escaped from police custody after being produced in the court for the hearing of his case on Saturday.

There was confusion over the event with many questioning the version given by the police officials who had been guarding the prisoner.

Later, the three police officials including the injured one were booked on suspicion of their involvement in the escape of the convict.

Police said Badar Abbas was brought to the court from Adiala jail amid tight security. After hearing of the case, he was being taken to the jail by constables Irfan, Wasim and Abbas.

The police report said that on way to the jail the policemen took the handcuffed convicted prisoner to the residence of constable Irfan on Adiala road for lunch, and unlocked him. “The prisoner and the police officials had lunch together at Irfan’s residence from where he escaped after injuring constable Sajid,” a senior police official said.

Earlier, the police officials who were guarding the prisoner had said he escaped from the district court premises after injuring the constable.— Staff Reporter