ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: A criminal case is likely to be registered against nine dismissed police officers who were found guilty in an inquiry into the escape of Rashid Rauf, sources told Dawn here on Saturday.

The sources said a letter from the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Shahid Nadeem Baloch, requesting registration of a criminal case against the police officials.

Mr Baloch, when contacted, told Dawn that he had not yet received the letter.

The IGP said a case would be registered against the personnel only if they were found guilty of helping Mr Rauf in his escape.

He said the policemen were dismissed from service for negligence, but their appeals were still pending with the authority concerned.

Earlier, a case was registered against constables Nawabzada and Mohammad Tufail, who were guarding the suspect.

Nine police officials - ASI Mohammad Raza, ASI Khalid Mehmood, ASI Mohammad Junaid, day moharar ASI Sajid, line officer ASI Mohsin Raza, night moharar head constable Mohammad Ashraf, robkar clerk constable Mohammad Ashraf, and constables Nawabzada and Mohammad Tufail - were held responsible for the escape of Mr Rauf in an inquiry conducted by SP Headquarters Mirvais Niaz Afridi. They were dismissed from police department on January 17.

Rauf escaped from the custody of the constables on December 15 when he was returning to Adiala Jail after attending a hearing in the court.

Mr Rauf, a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan, was arrested in Bahawalpur in August 2006 in possession of hydrogen peroxide, an potentially explosive chemical, and forged documents.

He was cited as a key suspect in the plot to blow up transatlantic flights from Britain to the United States.

However, in December 2006 an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi found no evidence proving his involvement in terrorist activities.

The Federal Review Board acquitted him of all charges on November 15, 2007, and ordered his release if he was not wanted by the law enforcement agencies in connection with any other case.

Despite releasing him immediately, the authorities detained him under 3MPO until he escaped.

The British law enforcement agencies also want to interrogate Mr Rauf in connection with the murder of his uncle in Birmingham in 2002.

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