ISLAMABAD: Two police officials were arrested and a case was registered against them after an under-trial prisoner (UTP) escaped from their custody, police said on Saturday.

The prisoner was brought from Adiala jail along with other UTPs to the district and sessions court for hearing of a robbery case registered against him at the Sabzai Mandi police station on April 19, 2021.

The accused was produced in the court of the judicial magistrate by an inspector and a sub-inspector, the police said, adding his handcuff was removed by the police officials after which he disappeared.

Later, the policemen returned to the jail along with other under-trial prisoners and the jail officials found one of the UTPs missing.

When asked, the policemen could not come up with a satisfactory reply.

The jail officials then approached the officer concerned in Islamabad and informed him about the disappearance of the prisoner.

Later, a case was registered against the police officials under 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant) and 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) along with 155-c (penalty for certain types of misconduct by police officers) of Police Order 2002.

The under-trial prisoner along with his accomplice had allegedly intercepted Nazir Ahmed at I-10/1 and snatched his motorcycle.

Published in Dawn, january 8th, 2023