SHEIKHUPURA, Dec 15: As many as four hardened criminals escaped from the Saddar police station on Thursday after cutting lock-up bars, resulting in a case against eight police officials for showing negligence. Police sources said the accused, Abdul Majeed alias Jeedi Sheikh, resident of Jandiala Road, Amir Shahzad of Kotli Moharan, Afzal of Dera Gharib Aalam and Naseer of Baway Da Kutya used a cutter to cut the bars.

SP (Headquarters) Asher Hameed told media that three accused—Amir, Afzal and Naseer— were arrested by the Saddar police a few days back in connection with cases of murder and dacoity, while Jeddi had been arrested on Dec 1, 2005, along with two hand grenades and a Kalashnikov. He was to be presented in an anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Friday(today).

All the accused were detained in the same lock-up at the police station on physical remands and were being interrogated by investigation cell staff.

Meanwhile, the B-Division police have registered a case against eight staffers, including Saddar SHO Inspector Sabir Hussain Shah, for showing negligence. Other officials against whom the case had been registered under sections 222, 223, 224, 225 PPC and article 155 of the Police Order-of 2002, on the complaint of City Circle ASP Ijaz Ahmed Khan, are Investigation Cell in-charge Inspector Mehar Muhammad Azam, Moharrar Muhammad Amin, Naib Moharrar Constable Luqman, and sentries Arshad, Sarwar and Arif Hussain. Six of them were arrested by the police and detained in Saddar police station lock-up.

Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, IG Ziaul Hassan Khan and Sheikhupura Range DIG Pervez Rahim Rajpoot have sought report of the incident.

DPO Syed Ibne Hussain told Dawn that he constituted an inquiry team, led by Headquarters SP Ashar Hameed, to probe the matter and submitted it report, while three police parties had been sent for early arrest of the accused. He said the parties raided various places to arrest the accused.

However, some skeptics alleged that the police wanted to kill the accused in an encounter and the whole ‘escape drama’ had been enacted to lend credibility to some possible extra-judicial killings.

The DPO said eight officials, including two inspectors, had been suspended from service.