An alleged robber was able to get out of Adiala Jail using fake bail documents earlier this month and now it is feared that he has fled to Dubai. Amid the confusion, a magistrate, who’s signatures were on the “forged papers”, filed an FIR against the fleeing suspect accusing him of forgery.
Sharjeel Bhatti, who is the leader of a gang of robbers, was arrested for snatching money and jewellery at gunpoint earlier this year. He was released from Adiala Jail on August 13 based on bail orders issued by an additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ).
According to information given by Civil Lines Police Sub Inspector (SI) Sabir Hussain, the investigation officer and in-charge of the district courts police post, the FIR was filed by Magistrate Sardar Hamid Hussain.
In the FIR registered on August 16, the magistrate informed the police that jail authorities had told him that surety bonds signed by him were received, based on which they released the accused.
The police have inserted the offences of cheating, impersonation, forging official seals and documents, forgery and using fake property documents, SI Sabir said, adding that an investigation was underway and the staff of the relevant courts would also be questioned.
According to the Waris Khan police, Bhatti was arrested from Peshawar after a case of purse snatching on gunpoint was registered on January 17 this year.
The complainant Sibtul Hassan had then informed the police that he and his wife were in Kohinoor Market on Benazir Bhutto Road when the incident took place. I got out of the car to go to a shop when two gunmen came and took away gold jewellery worth over Rs2 million and cash including foreign currency from my wife, who was alone in the car, he had said in the complaint.
The police later traced a three-member gang involved in such crimes on the busy Benazir Bhutto Road area and arrested two members, Bhatti and Muhammad Bilal, and sent them to jail.
Bhatti was arrested from Peshawar, from where it is believed he was planning to escape to Dubai based on his possession of a passport and tickets.
The Waris Khan police fear Bhatti could have fled to Dubai after getting out of jail.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2012.
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