PESHAWAR, Nov 19: An under-trial prisoner escaped before appearing in the court of a judicial magistrate on Monday.

Police sources told Dawn that Mohammad Iqbal alias Balay, son of Haibat Khan, resident of Dara Adam Khel, escaped outside the court of judicial magistrate Safiullah.

They said the accused faced more than a dozen cases of car-lifting and burglary. He was also allegedly the ring-leader of a gang of Dara Adam Khel. He was arrested by police on May 21, 2000, on the charges of carjacking.

Sources said the accused opened his handcuff and escaped before entering the court. The two police officials, Head Constable Yousaf and Zakir, who were with the accused, failed to nab him.

They have been suspended and detained in the quarters guard at the police headquarters.