RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi police said on Wednesday that they had arrested three cops, who were posted as guards at Adiala jail, for their alleged involvement in the escape of a prisoner while he was being transported to Jhelum jail from a court in the garrison city.

According to a police statement, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tauqeer Hussain, Head Constable Mahboob Khan and Constable Qasim were arrested on the directives of Rawalpindi City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera.

Police said the escape took place in the Mandra area on Tuesday, identifying the prisoner as Hammad, who had a record of involvement in cases of “serious crime”. According to police, search operations and raids were underway to arrest the prisoner.

According to the first information report, a copy of which is available with Dawn, the prisoner was being transported back to Jhelum jail after a court appearance when the three cops “conspired” with him and made the van driver stop at a hotel along the GT Road near Mandra police station as part of their “escape plan”. The prisoner and the policemen got out at the hotel, where they were joined by three of his accomplices.

According to the FIR, the prisoner and his accomplices had planned to escape in a car. However, the police van driver alerted the Mandra police, who reached the spot as the prisoner was attempting to escape.

“When the police signalled the accused to stop, Hammad and his accomplices began firing at the police,” the FIR read. It was registered on behalf of the state by Mandra police Station House Officer (SHO) Zakaa ul Hassan.

It invoked Sections 324 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 222 (intentional omission to apprehend on the part of a public servant bound to apprehend a person under sentence or lawfully committed), 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by a public servant), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention), 118 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made causing death or hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Sections 155-C and 155-D of Police Order 2002, which pertain to misconduct by police officers, and multiple sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Gujjar Khan Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Syed Danyial Hassan told Dawn that Mandra police had managed to arrest one of the accomplices, identified as Danial, and recover an AK-47 from his possession, while the others managed to escape.

The official said the police van had also been taken into custody. He told Dawn that the prisoner was accused of killing an Adiala jail official and had been transferred to Jhelum jail a few days ago following the recovery of a mobile phone from his possession at Adiala.

In June, 14 under-trial prisoners escaped from a prisoner van while being transported from Kahuta to Adiala jail after overpowering security guards.

Four of the escaped prisoners were re-arrested during an operation, a Rawalpindi spokesperson said soon after the incident. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Sihala police station in Islamabad district.