KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Tuesday granted bail to three jail officials, including a former superintendent of Karachi Central Prison, in a case pertaining to the escape of two suspected militants who were allegedly involved in over 60 murders.

The then jail superintendent Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh, deputy superintendent Faheem Anwar Memon and assistant superintendent Abdul Rehman Shaikh along with 12 other officials and personnel had been arrested for their negligence in the escape of the suspected Lashkar-i-Jhangvi militants, Shaikh Mohammad Mumtaz alias Firaun alias Sher Khan and Mohammad Ahmed Khan alias Munna, from the jail premises on June 13.

The three suspended officials through their counsel moved bail applications and after hearing arguments from both sides, the judge of ATC-VIII granted bail to each of them against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

According to the prosecution, the hardcore militants had escaped from the judicial complex inside the central prison where they had been brought by jail officials allegedly in connection with the hearing of some cases. 

NBP president summoned to record evidence in another case

Arrested in 2013, the suspects were allegedly involved in the targeted killing of more than 60 police officials, political party workers and Shia community members. They belonged to the Qasim Rasheed group of the banned militant outfit, LJ.

A case was registered against the jail officials for their alleged negligence and the escaped UTPs under Sections 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), 225 (resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person), 225-A (omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant in cases not otherwise provided for) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at New Town police station. 

Later, Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act was incorporated into the FIR on the recommendation of the Counter-Terrorism Department of police.

NBP chief summoned

An anti-corruption court on Tuesday summoned the president of National Bank of Pakistan for evidence in a graft case.

The judge of a special anti-corruption court summoned the incumbent president of NBP, Saeed Ahmed, who is a prosecution witness in the graft case, for evidence on July 20.

The former president of NBP Syed Ali Raza, senior vice presidents Mirza Abrar Baig, Masood Karim, Shahid Anwar, Asif Brohi and around 10 other officials have been charged with allegedly embezzling funds from 2003 to 2008 by misusing their official authority.

The Federal Investigation Agency had registered a case in 2012 under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2017