RAWALPINDI, Nov 16: Police on Wednesday arrested the reader of a female civil judge on the charge of bringing into the district court building one of the alleged killers of the three under-trial prisoners and a passer-by on the premises Saturday, has learnt.

Wajid Iqbal, the reader of Civil Judge Shamila Sheikh, was taken into custody after the investigators spotted him on the CCTV footage while entering the premises through the district council gate on a motorcycle with one of the alleged arrested killers, Khizar of Chaklala, on the pillion. The police said during investigation Mr Iqbal confessed that he had brought Khizar to the court building on his motorbike as he was his friend. He said he picked up Khizar from Lulial Chowk where he was waiting for him on Saturday morning.

A source close to the investigation said the alleged killer was carrying guns and entered the court premises along with Mr Iqbal who had displayed his official card on his chest as court employees and lawyers are exempted from security check.

Meanwhile, police are also hunting for another man believed to be the mastermind of transporting the killer along with the arms into the district court building.

On the other hand, the police investigation into the killing of the four persons, including three handcuffed under-trial suspected murderers, continued as statements of 85 police officials, including policewomen, were recorded on Wednesday.

City Police Officer Azhar Hameed Khokhar had constituted an inquiry team headed by SSP operation Yaseen Farooq who recorded the statements. Among those who recorded their statements were the deputy superintendents and SHOs of Civil Lines and Waris Khan.

In another development, DSP Waris Khan circle Malik Arshad has also been suspended by the inspector general of police in connection with the case. The station house officer of Waris Khan, Raja Rasheed, has already been suspended.

The the CPO had written to the IGP for departmental action against the DSP following allegations that the two officials were absent from duty assigned to them in line with the 'security order' released for that day. The suspended DSP has been directed to report to the Central Police Office, Lahore.

It may be noted that three of the alleged attackers on the under-trial prisoners have already been arrested and the weapons used in the crime seized by the police.

Among those who recorded their statements was the in-charge of the Quick Response Force squad that was on security duty of the three prisoners. The QRF personnel didn't fire a single bullet when the under-trial prisoners and a passer-by were attacked by the gunmen.

A source close to the investigation said the in-charge of the QRF squad, Sub-Inspector Sher Mohammad, who was sent to bring the prisoners from Adiala jail, could not even walk easily due to a leg fracture.

A senior police official confirmed that the QRF in-charge was suffering from a leg fracture and always preferred to be assigned security duty. On that day, the QRF squad was equipped with G-3 rifles, semi-machineguns and pistols but they could not retaliate.

Besides, women police personnel who had been deployed at the entry and exit of the district court premises were also investigated as there were speculations that the weapons used by the killers were smuggled into the building by a woman who was not subjected to security check.

The police inquiry report would be sent to the IGP for further departmental action and it is expected that more police officials would face suspension.