Cops held over 'jailbreak conspiracy'
Three policemen allegedly involved in a conspiracy to help an accused prisoner escape in the Mandra area have been arrested and a case registered against them.
One accomplice of the suspect has also been arrested.
Police employees and suspects have also been accused of allegedly conspiring to kill or harm the prisoner's opponents. A wide-ranging investigation has been launched.
According to sources, a case was registered at Mandra police station on the complaint of the station house officer under provisions relating to terrorism, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, resistance to police and the Police Order, among others.
The FIR states that after accused Hamad Ali, who was involved in murder and other serious cases, was produced before a court, he was being taken in a prisoner van to District Jail Jhelum when ASI Tauqeer Hussain, Head Constable Mehboob Khan and Constable Qasim Bashir allegedly colluded with the suspects and, according to a pre-planned scheme, took him to a hotel.
Three other accomplices of the suspect also arrived there. The police employees allegedly prepared a criminal conspiracy with the accused and his accomplices to kill or harm his opponents and placed him in a private vehicle instead of the official vehicle.
The driver of the official vehicle, Raheel, informed police employees Faisal Waheed and others, who were already present at the hotel in plain clothes and having a meal, about the plan to help the accused escape. They immediately informed the authorities.
The police party reached the spot and signalled the suspects' vehicle to stop. Hamad Ali and his accomplices allegedly opened fire on the police with a Kalashnikov and other weapons.
Two bullets hit the official vehicle while another struck Constable Sohail, who remained safe because he was wearing a bulletproof jacket.
The suspects fled the scene. Their intense firing on a public road created fear and panic in the area.
The police employees allegedly assisting the suspects - ASI Tauqeer Hussain, Head Constable Mehboob Khan and Qasim Bashir - and one accomplice, identified as Daniyal, were arrested. A Kalashnikov was recovered from Daniyal.
Police said the suspects, including the police employees, committed the offence by facilitating the escape of the prisoner from custody through criminal assistance and collusion and then opening fire on police on a public road.
The incident allegedly took place at the behest of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Bilal. Police registered a case.
A police spokesperson said the police personnel and the prisoner's accomplices had planned the escape in advance and placed Hamad in a private vehicle.
When Mandra police tried to stop the suspects after receiving information, the escaped prisoner Hamad and his accomplices opened fire on the police party.
Mandra police arrested one of Hamad's accomplices, Daniyal, and recovered a Kalashnikov from him.
Searches and raids by police teams at different locations are continuing for the escaped prisoner.
Escaped prisoner Hamad has a criminal record involving various serious cases.
CPO Rawalpindi Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera said Hamad and his accomplices would be arrested and brought to justice, adding that assistance or patronage of criminal elements would not be tolerated.