ISLAMABAD, Dec 25: Five of the police officials arrested in connection with the theft of arms seized from Lal Masjid were on Thursday shifted to the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) centre for interrogation.

According to sources, the accused police officials nominated in the case were being shortlisted.

Ten police officials, including the then SHO and four ASIs, were taken into custody after the arms seized by the security agencies during the Lal Masjid operation were found stolen from the armoury of the Aabpara police station last week.

The then SHO was granted bail by the special judge central Rawalpindi, while the remand custody of the remaining nine police officials was extended for five days.

A joint investigation team has recorded the statements of the accused identified in the FIR registered into the case.

Investigators believe that the weapons were stolen most likely during Eidul Azha holidays, as the then SHO Naeem Iqbal was on four-day leave while only one constable and a night Muharar were on duty.

The source said the lock of the armoury was an ordinary lock that could be opened with ease.

He said the stolen arms included four light machine guns (LMGs), one heavy machine gun, which is difficult to carry by one person; more than 40 Kalashnikovs and two wireless sets. Two burnt Kalashnikovs lying in the armoury were not taken away by the thieves.