GUJRANWALA, Nov 11: The local anti-terrorism court No 1 continued hearing of the Sialkot jail incident here on Friday and recorded the statements of various witnesses, including civil judge Javed Ahmad Warraich.

Javed Warraich said the judges and the accused were killed in police firing. He said the police had opened fire despite stopping by the judges and the home secretary.

He said their talks with the accused for the release of hostage judges were succeeded, but former SHO inspector Zulfikar Ali Virk who had been called by senior police officers for an operation in jail brought the mothers and sisters of the captives to the jail and started abusing the accused before them. As a result, they became infuriated and refused to release the judges.

He said slain judge Shahar Yar Bukhari after his release had also asked the police not to open fire. He claimed the police operation was wrong.