Court remands PTI MPAs in custody
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted a two-day physical remand for 86 suspects, including two PTI MPAs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police personnel, and Rescue 1122 employees, in connection with the attack on a police prisoner transport van in Sangjani.
The suspects face charges under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly orchestrating an assault to free detainees.
During the court session presided over by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, police presented PTI MPAs Malik Liaqat and Anwar Zeb, along with 34 K-P police officers, 42 Rescue 1122 workers, and four other individuals, requesting a 30-day remand to investigate their involvement in the October 5 incident.
PTI lawyers, including Mirza Asim Baig, Sardar Masroor Khan, Amna Ali, and Ansar Kayani, opposed the remand request, questioning the handling of the prisoner transfer.
They argued that detainees had already been in police custody since October 5 and noted that a previous court had already discharged some defendants from the case.
The defence further questioned the decision to reroute the police van from the motorway to the GT Road, suggesting it was a calculated move.
Additionally, they highlighted that all suspects were already detained and no one had escaped during the incident, dismissing the notion that 82 people were instantly apprehended without issues.
Prosecutor Kazim Abbas argued that remand was necessary to investigate the conspiracy, recover weapons, and analyze video evidence.
Judge Sipra observed that the case involved numerous suspects already acknowledged to be in the van, questioning the need for further analysis.
The court ultimately approved a two-day remand, instructing police to conduct medical examinations of injured suspects and submit the findings at the next hearing.
FIR
Separately, a terrorism case has been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Sangjani police station.
According to the FIR, the attack occurred near the Sangjani toll plaza, where 35-40 armed individuals allegedly opened fire on the police convoy transporting detainees from court to Attock Jail.
The attackers reportedly used rods to break the van's locks, facilitating the prisoners' escape and injuring police officers in the process.
The FIR also noted that planning for the attack was suspected to have taken place during a court appearance earlier.
Four suspicious vehicles were observed near the toll plaza, and the attackers reportedly burst the van's tyres and smashed its windows, forcing detained individuals to join in the attack.
Despite the chaos, police managed to arrest several escaping prisoners and four attackers on the scene.