‘Fleeing’ PTI MPs, others recaptured after foiled prison van escape

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad police on Friday claimed to have foiled an armed attack on three prison vans carried out by assailants to free Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, government officials and police officers held in the D-Chowk protest case.

The unidentified assailants carried out a gun attack on three prison vans that were “transporting 82 suspects, including PTI Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), government officials and police officers, to Attock Jail” after a hearing, police added.

One of the prison vans was carrying PTI MPAs Anwar Zaib, Liaquat and Yasir Qureshi.

The PTI lawmakers and other prisoners managed to flee from the prison vans after the armed attack but were arrested again by Islamabad police.

The armed attack took place at Sangjani Toll Plaza, the police sources said, adding that it appeared to be an ambush as the armed men had already taken up position before the arrival of the vans at the toll plaza.

The attackers burst the tires of the vans and later opened fire on police, wounding four police officers who were quickly taken to hospital.

The photos of the incident, obtained by Geo newsshowed that a mobile police van in the prison van convoy was also damaged during the attack.

After the armed attack, Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said Geo news that 82 prisoners were present in the prison vans being transported to Attock Prison after being produced before a court in the federal capital.

He said all the prisoners who fled after the attack were rearrested as police foiled their attempt to escape. Rizvi confirmed that the fleeing prisoners include two MPAs who have also been retaken into custody.

An Islamabad police spokesperson said senior officers along with heavy contingents had reached the spot and search operations were launched in several areas to nab the perpetrators.

Sangjani incident staged to file fake cases: PTI

On the other hand, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram accused Islamabad Police of “using these tactics to file more fake cases against the party workers”.

In a statement, Akram claimed that more than 80 party members were required to appear before a court for hearing of a case filed at Sangjani police station today.

The court dismissed all PTI workers in the case, he added.

The spokesperson of the party founded by Imran Khan claimed that the prisoners were taken to Attock Jail and their prison vans were taken to Chungi Number 26, adding that all of them were booked in another case lodged with the police at the secretariat had been submitted.

Rejecting police claims that he faced an armed attack, Akram claimed that a station house officer (SHO) and other officers shattered the window of a police mobile van and prison vans after eliminating all the inmates.

He alleged that the PTI prisoners were asked to run away but they refused to run.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur called the Sangjani incident “a drama staged by the fake government and Islamabad police” to show that the prisoners were on the run.

The KP CEO alerted the Islamabad authorities saying that the arrested persons must be transported safely otherwise the Home Minister, IG, DIG and other senior officers would be held responsible.

Attackers in general are tracked down: Tarar

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the major opposition party of orchestrating the “armed attack on prison vans” carrying 83 prisoners near Sangjani Toll Plaza.

At a press conference in Islamabad today, he claimed that up to 30 persons in four cars attacked the vans to help the prisoners escape police custody, who successfully repelled the attack. Two police officers were injured, but everyone who tried to flee was arrested again.

He confirmed that four attackers have been arrested, in addition to the seizure of weapons and two cars used in the attack.

Tarar rejected PTI spokesperson’s claims that the attack was staged by the police, terming the party’s response “ridiculous” and said authorities had CCTV footage of the attack.

Tarar said the rest of the attackers and their cars were traced and would be taken into custody soon. Anyone involved in planning and supporting the attack would face the law, he added.

Several PTI leaders, as well as the sisters of party founder Imran Khan, had been arrested during the protest demonstration in Islamabad on October 4.

However, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted bail to Khan’s sister – Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan – in the D-Chowk protest case registered at Kohsar police station earlier today.

The former ruling party launched its anti-government campaign for the “independence” of the judiciary and the release of the former prime minister from prison.