Prisoners serving life term escape

HARIPUR:

Negligence of jail authorities allowed a safe exit to four prisoners in Haripur on Sunday. One of them, however, was  later arrested.

According to Haripur Central Prison Superintendent Masoodur Rehman, the officials on duty left before their closing time, which gave an easy escape to the inmates.

Rehman said three of the prisoners --- Sohrab, his brother Sher Afzal and Tariq --- were serving life sentences after being convicted for murder, while Safdar, their fourth accomplice, was an under-trial prisoner.

He said the four of them fled from Barrack 5, Sector 4 and used a wooden ladder to climb the jail’s 20-feet external wall. However, Safdar fell on the ground while climbing and was caught by jail officials.

The authorities later suspended 11 jail officials and booked them for negligence. Two inmates serving as numberdars were also booked for abetting the escape.

According to Rehman, 24 officials of the prison have been suspended for negligence during the past three months, while over 500 mobile sets and narcotics have been recovered from inmates.

The police sources said Safdar had escaped from Karachi District Jail last year and also attempted to flee from the Haripur police’s custody.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd,  2012.