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JHELUM: In a major security lapse, armed men intercepted a prison van on the busy GT Road near Mandra and forcibly freed a murder suspect who was being taken back to District Jail Jhelum after appearing in court. The escape involved Malik Hamad, who is facing a murder case registered with Saddar Beruni police. He had initially been held at Adiala Central Jail before being transferred to Jhelum following the recovery of a mobile phone and other prohibited items during a surprise inspection. Hamad was brought to Rawalpindi on Tuesday for a court hearing. While the prison van was returning to Jhelum, it slowed near Galaxy Hotel at Bacha Stop, where another vehicle approached the van. According to sources, the occupants told prison officials that Hamad’s mother was seriously ill and requested a brief meeting with him. Taking advantage of the confusion, several armed men surrounded the van with their vehicles, pulled Hamad out and escaped. The incident immediately triggered a security alert, with senior police and jail officials rushing to the location. Police teams were subsequently formed to track down and arrest the escaped suspect. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the security arrangements for transporting prisoners. It comes weeks after 14 high-risk prisoners escaped from another prison van while returning from Kahuta in late June. All of them were later recaptured following an extensive search operation, while cases were registered against the policemen responsible for their security. Following that escape, Rawalpindi police introduced new standard operating procedures aimed at strengthening prisoner transportation security. The latest incident, however, has renewed questions about whether those measures are being properly implemented. Four policemen reportedly assigned to guard Hamad have been detained for questioning. Sources also claimed that the suspect had links with an influential individual associated with a private housing society. Despite the seriousness of the incident, senior police officials declined to comment publicly, while a search operation to recapture Hamad remained underway.

Lahore police have decided to conduct a polygraph test on an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in connection with allegations that a young woman was sexually assaulted at Ghaziabad police station. According to police sources, ASI Imran, who is currently in custody, will undergo the test as investigators continue examining the allegations and conflicting accounts surrounding the incident. Police said the alleged victim has already undergone a psychiatric assessment. The report from the assessment is expected to be received on August 18, while additional medical and forensic examinations have also been conducted. According to the police, ASI Imran has denied the allegations. He reportedly told investigators that he had brought the woman to the police station because she was allegedly involved in begging. He claimed that he did not assault her and instead provided her with food and counselled her before sending her away. Investigators said the initial medical report contains some ambiguity regarding the allegations of sexual assault. Police officials said a detailed report from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) is expected to provide further findings that could help investigators establish what happened. The case is being closely monitored by DIG Investigation Lahore Zeeshan Raza, who said he is personally supervising the investigation. He assured that anyone found responsible would be punished according to the law. Police sources said further tests of the alleged victim have also been conducted, but their results are still awaited. Investigators are expected to consider the medical evidence, forensic findings, statements and other available material before reaching conclusions about the case. The investigation is being conducted under the direction of DIG Investigation Lahore. A team comprising Ghaziabad Investigation Incharge Inspector Nasir Hameed, Gender Cell Incharge Inspector Fatima and Investigation Officer Faryal is working on the case. The decision to conduct a polygraph test on the detained ASI comes as investigators attempt to establish the facts surrounding the allegations. However, the reported initial medical ambiguity means that the final medical and forensic findings will be important in determining the direction of the investigation. Authorities have said that the investigation remains ongoing and that legal action will be taken on the basis of the evidence collected.

KARACHI: The father of slain businessman Mir Raza Ali has called for the suspension of Karachi East DIG Dr Farrukh Ali and other police officials, accusing them of delaying the investigation and allegedly concealing crucial evidence in his son’s murder case. Speaking to reporters, Mir Hussain said the police had mishandled the investigation and urged authorities to take action against the Ferozabad SHO and other officers allegedly involved in the case. He claimed that officials had “played a game” with the grieving family. Twenty-five-year-old Mir Raza Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, went missing on July 28 and was found dead in Gulistan-e-Jauhar the following day. While the initial investigation considered suicide as a possibility, his family consistently maintained that he had been abducted, tortured and murdered. The case took a new turn after a fresh post-mortem reportedly identified a gunshot wound to Ali’s back along with other injuries. A chemical examination also detected acid particles and gunshot-residue elements on his shirt, while police said sedatives were found in his blood and DNA testing matched his parents. Meanwhile, the family has requested that Ali’s smartwatch be examined by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), rather than the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Family lawyer Jibran Nasir expressed concern that the device had remained with a former investigation committee head for several days before being handed to the NCCIA, raising fears of possible tampering. The newly formed investigation team, headed by DIG Amir Farooqi, has written to the NCCIA seeking forensic analysis of the smartwatch as well as information concerning Ali’s social media and other digital accounts. Investigators have also revisited the crime scene, interviewed nursery staff and collected additional evidence. The team has been tasked with examining outstanding aspects of the case, including geofencing, mobile-data records and digital evidence. Authorities have set August 15 as the deadline for submission of the investigation report. Meanwhile, a medico-legal officer who conducted the initial post-mortem was removed following an inquiry that identified serious lapses in the examination.