Three Afghan detainees escape from police shelter

FAISALABAD:

Three Afghan nationals escaped from police custody at the Lorry Adda shelter late Tuesday night after breaking a ventilator window of a washroom, prompting disciplinary action against negligent officials.

According to police sources, the shelter, located behind the Lorry Adda check post in the jurisdiction of Civil Lines police station, was being used to hold Afghan nationals residing illegally in the city after their arrest from different areas.

The escapees were identified as Abdul Basir, 32, arrested by Sandal Bar police; Izzat Khan, 20, detained by Dijkot police; and Jalil Khan, 27, arrested by Kotwali police.

The escape came to light shortly after it occurred, following which senior police officers, including SP Lyallpur Town Abid Hussain Zafar, DSP Civil Lines Muhammad Shabbir, and SHO Civil Lines Mian Ali Akbar, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation.

Taking serious notice of the incident, City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad Sahibzada Bilal Umar ordered the immediate suspension of seven police personnel for negligence of duty.

Those suspended include ASI Muhammad Aslam, Head Constables Talat Mahmood and Muhammad Aamir, and Constables Atif Javed, Khurram Shehzad, Shahid Mukhtar, and Ishaq Bashir. They have also been charge-sheeted.

The CPO appointed the SSP Operations as inquiry officer and ordered a regular departmental inquiry, warning that strict departmental action would follow if negligence is proven.

CPO Bilal Umar stated that there would be zero tolerance for carelessness in sensitive duties and that officials showing negligence did not deserve any leniency.