KOHAT: One of the suspected killers of four policemen escaped from Kohat prison allegedly by dodging the staff, police spokesman confirmed on Friday.

When contacted, spokesman for the district police Fazal Naeem said that 19 policemen who took the prisoners to the courts and then brought them back to the prison had been suspended after registration of an FIR in Jarma police station against them. The notorious Anwar gang had killed SHO Lachi, Khanullah, additional SHO Tahir Khan, havaldar Tanveer Hussain and constable Ghufran near Sumari in July 2017.

The case was registered by counter-terrorism department. However, SHO Afzal Awan tracked the killers in a jungle and he was injured in intense exchange of firing. One Abid was held in injured condition, but his other accomplices managed to escape.

19 policemen suspended

An official confided to this correspondent that the bus which was bringing prisoners from the courts entered the prison through the main gate. He said that while disembarking the prisoner, Abid, whose handcuffs were already removed mingled with the visitors and safely came out of the prison from where he was picked by his companions waiting outside in two cars.

REPATRIATION OF IDPS: The second phase of registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) for repatriation to Mamzoai area of upper Orakzai district started at the entry checkpoint near Hangu on Friday.

Sector commander Brig Shehzad Akram and other officials were also present on the occasion. About 8,000 persons would be registered in the second phase.

At a briefing, Brig Akram was told that in all the three phases 16,000 families would be resettled and the second phase would continue till August 20, 2018.

In his address to the returning tribesmen, Brig Akram said that the area had been secured with the sacrifices of the army, Frontier Corps and tribal people so they should avoid giving shelter to sinister elements again. During his visit of the camp, he listened to the tribesmen and ordered provision of all facilities to them.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2018