Murad deplores bail of jail officials in escape of prison inmates

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday deplored the bail of three among fifteen jail officials who had been arrested for criminal negligence in the escape of two dangerous under-trial inmates at the Karachi Central Jail.

The chief minister speaking to media after performing the concluding ceremony of the Urs of Abdullah Shah Ghazi said that law enforcement agencies arrest terrorists after long and hectic efforts and even lay down their lives.

“The escape of such terrorists from the custody is a serious criminal matter,” he said and added it could not be ignored at any cost.

Counter Terrorism Officials have expressed fear that the inmate may have fled to Afghanistan. Muhammad Usman alias Firaun and Muhammad Ahmed alias Munna who belonged to a proscribed outfit escaped from the prison of June 13.

CM Sindh said that he has no report whether the escaped prisoners have fled to Afghanistan, but they are in contact with other provinces and the Police, Rangers, CTD and intelligence agencies were working in close coordination to arrest them.

The chief minister said that he had taken the issue of escaped prisoners seriously and the services of some senior officers have been suspended while fifteen jail others were arrested for criminal negligence.

He deplored that three out the fifteen arrested jail officials have been bailed, and said that the government has filed an appeal against their bail order and the case investigation officer has also been suspended.

He also said that the investigation has been assigned to a SP for further investigation, which is unusual for a senior police officer but has been made keeping in view the seriousness of the case.

CM Sindh said that a designated prosecutor has been appointed to prosecute the officers arrested in the case. It may be noted that the investigation officer has submitted an affidavit against the statement associated with him which has been quoted by the court in bail order of three hail officials.

Talking about NAB law, the chief minister said that Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has directed him to revisit the federal NAB law, particularly the Sindh section which provincial assembly has repealed.

Replying to a question about IG Police, he said that they respect the court verdict but have some reservations which will be challenged by the provincial government.