32 police officers punished over jailbreak

ISLAMABAD:

Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Badar on Tuesday informed the Senate that 19 prisoners escaped from police custody over the past four years, of whom 15 have since been rearrested.

Responding to various questions during Question Hour, he said disciplinary and criminal action was taken against 32 police officers for negligence and violations of SOPs.

The minister said that four escaped prisoners were still at large, adding that efforts were under way to apprehend them.

He said departmental action had been initiated against 32 police officials found responsible for lapses in custody management, with major punishments awarded to 17 officers.

He said that 13 criminal cases had also been registered against police personnel whose negligence contributed to the escapes.

The minister explained that investigations revealed failures in following SOPs related to the production of accused persons before courts and their transfer from one place to another, which led to the incidents. "Wherever negligence was established, strict action was taken without discrimination," he added.