GUJRANWALA, April 15: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 1 on Friday accepted the plea of three senior police officers for exempting them from their presence in the court during the hearing of the Sialkot jail incident.

Former Gujranwala DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal, former Sialkot DPO Amjed Javed Saleemi and Gujrat DPO Raja Munawer Hasan pleaded that they were facing problems in attending the court on account of their professional duties.

Accepting their plea, judge Mujahid Mustaqim directed them that they should appear before court only when they were summoned.

The judge also recorded the statements of three constables — Naseer Ali, Ameer Ali, Muhammad Arshed and ASI Aftab Ahmad. While SI Amjad Ali was cross-examined.

The court adjourned the hearing till April 21.

Former Sialkot jail superintendent Sikander Hayat, former jail assistant superintendent Akhter Ali, Raja Mushtaq, Ghulam Sarwer, former SHO Zulfikar Ali Virk, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital’s former surgeon Dr Sajjad Ahmad and 11 Elite Force officials besides other accused were also present in the court.

BLOCKADE: Residents threw traffic out of gear on the GT Road at Ghakkhar after a truck crushed to death a minor boy and injured another on Friday.

Afzal (12) and Imran (16) were crossing the road when the incident occurred. Afzal died on the spot while Imran sustained serious injuries. He was shifted to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.

While the heirs and area people blocked the road in protest and demanded immediate arrest of the absconding driver. However, the Motorway police got restored the traffic.

shot dead: A constable was shot dead by two unidentified men in Kalar Abadi here on Friday.

Muhammad Anwar of Baghbanpura went to Kalar Abadi by his motorcycle. The three men waiting there exchanged hot words with him over a monetary issue. Later, the armed men opened fire on the constable, killing him instantly. The killers escaped on the bike of the deceased constable.

Baghbanpura police have registered a case and are investigating.