LANDI KOTAL, Nov 18: The political administration in Landi Kotal Khyber Agency suspended four prison official for allegedly helping a prisoner escape.

The prisoner, who according to political authorities was mentally ill, made good his escape on Saturday taking advantage of the jail officials’ sympathetic attitude.

Upon his release originally from Kabul, he identified himself as Abdul Ghafoor a resident of Kohat. Later, the authorities through their own sources confirmed that he was an Afghan national and a request to the central government was made for his deportation with three other prisoners who too were released from Kabul a week ago.

Abdul Ghafoor, with 15 other Pakistani prisoners were kept at the Landi Kotal prison for investigations by the Khyber Agency political administration and a joint team of investigators.

Another investigation team, headed by the political tehsildar Landi Kotal was formed to investigate the escape of Abdul Ghafoor with further tightening of security at the Landi Kotal prison.

The Landi Kotal authorities admitted another prisoner, released from Kabul, was being treated at Landi Kotal Hospital for skin disease.

Three freed prisoners were already under treatment at the said hospital.

But hospital sources told Dawn that the medicine prescribed for these patients was not available with the hospital nor had the local administration provided them with new clothes.

These prisoners developed scabies during their captivity in Kabul.

Scabies patients are required to change their clothes after every application of ointment on their bodies.