Prison break: SHO suspended after suspect escapes from custody

Three other officials were arrested for negligence and aiding the suspect to escape.

KARACHI: The Station House Officer of Aram Bagh police station was suspended while three other personnel were arrested after a member of a gang of vehicle lifters managed to escape from their custody. Officials alleged that the police personnel had helped the suspect escape from custody.

The suspect, identified as Mustafa Wahab, was arrested by Sher Shah Police about a week ago, along with his companion, Ramzan, over street crime. A motorcycle, snatched from Kalri area of Lyari, was also seized from their possession.

Later, the suspects were sent to prison from where officials of the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) had temporarily detained both suspects at Aram Bagh Police Station. It was from the lockup of Aram Bagh station that Abdul Wahab managed to make his escape in the early hours of Sunday morning.

When the ACLC officials returned to the police station to question the suspects, they were told that Wahab had escaped, said an ACLC official, Shamsuddin. “The police helped him flee,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, a heated argument ensued between the Aram Bagh police and ACLC officials who later informed the senior police officials about the incident. Taking notice of the incident, the deputy inspector general of police South, Abdul Khalique Shaikh, suspended SHO Qamar Javed Kayani. Three officials, including the duty officer, Ameer, Head Muhrir, Maqsood and a sepoy, Fareed, were also arrested. DIG Shaikh also ordered an inquiry to probe the incident. The inquiry officer, SI Mohammad Ansar, said that the cases against the arrested policemen were registered for negligence and aiding the suspect in his escape.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2013.