KARACHI, Sept 13: An undertrial prisoner facing kidnap for ransom and murder charges on Thursday escaped from a Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre ward where he had been admitted for treatment.

Two police constables Mohammad Amir and Iqbal Khan who had the custody of the undertrial, Rashid, son of Mohammad Shah, at the hospital were later booked and arrested over negligence and omission in apprehending the fleeing suspect.

Police said that Rashid escaped from his bed (No 50) in ward (No 12) of the JPMC where he had been brought from the Karachi central jail for treatment on Aug 31.The police said that two accomplices of the suspect engaged the two policemen of court police on duty at the hospital in conversation to facilitate his escape.

Both the policemen were later arrested in an FIR (228/2012) registered at the Saddar police station under Sections 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), 225-A (omission to apprehend or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant in case not otherwise provided for) of the Pakistan Penal Code.“The undertrial was brought to the hospital from the central prison for treatment. He was vomiting blood and two days back he had been diagnosed with tuberculosis,” said SP Jail Raja Mumtaz while speaking to Dawn.

The police said Rashid was a resident of Liaquatabad and was booked in an FIR (524/2009) pertaining to kidnap for ransom and murder registered at the Ferozabad police station. Two other FIRs related to narcotics and illegal weapon was also lodged against him at the Liaquatabad and Super Market police stations, respectively.

He had been in jail since 2009 following his arrest in the case registered at the Ferozabad police station under Sections 365-A (kidnap for ransom), 324 (attempt to murder) and 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the PPC.—Staff Reporter