DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The local district police officer has terminated 40 policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, from service for negligence in duty during the central jailbreak two years ago.

DPO Sadiq Baloch told Dawn on Wednesday that an ASI, three head constables and 36 constables were among the sacked policemen.

These officials were on duty inside the prison on the night between July 29 and July 30 in 2013 when the Taliban militants stormed the premises and got over 230 prisoners, including 23 hardened militants, freed.

Former Pakistan Air Force official Adnan Rashid, who was convicted for an abortive bid on the life of General (r) Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi and had escaped from Bannu jail during a 2012 militant attack, had reportedly masterminded the jailbreak.

The sacked policemen performed duty on the jail’s main gate as well as at its different portions and barracks.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the jailbreak.

The policemen have the right to file appeals against their terminations with the department as well as service tribunal.

The action was taken on the recommendation of a two-member committee formed on the order of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

The chief minister had expressed reservation about the findings of an earlier committee and instead formed another committee comprising senior civil 40 policemen lose job over DI Khan jailbreak servant Hamada Agha and educationist Fazal Rabi for the probe.

In its initial report filed with the provincial government, the two-member committee had recommended termination from service and some other penalties against the police personnel and other officials, including one from the prison, for negligence in duty and exhibiting cowardice during the militant attack on the jail.

The police personnel had challenged the recommendations of the committee in the Peshawar High Court.

However, the court recently dismissed the petitions prompting the government to follow the committee’s recommendations.

Sources said after policemen of low cadre, action would be taken against senior police officials responsible for DI Khan jailbreak.

They, however, said the decision on the matter would be taken by provincial police chief Nasir Khan Durrani and relevant authorities.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2015

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