GUJRANWALA, June 23: The main accused of the Sialkot jail tragedy, former inspector Zulfikar Virk, escaped from police custody here on Thursday. Virk was reportedly being driven back to the Central Jail after his production before a local anti-terrorism court when he “dodged six policemen escorting him and escaped.”

The policemen led by Sialkot Civil Lines SHO were suspended and raids for their arrest were on, Gujranwala DPO confirmed. Escorting the jail case accused to the ATC from the local jail is the responsibility of the Sialkot police.

Known for encounter killings, Virk, it is said, was the official whose firing had claimed the lives of four judges held hostage by five outlaws some two years ago.

He was specially called from Narowal when the criminals had held hostage nearly a dozen judges and judicial officers who were on a routine inspection on July 24, 2003. He had brought with him some women relatives of criminals to make them surrender.

After the incident, he went into hiding. However, the Faisalabad police caught him, but soon he managed his escape. He was re-arrested some months ago.

REJECTED: A local anti-corruption court rejected the bail of suspended Kharian tehsil nazim Nadeem Asghar Kaira here on Thursday.

The police sent him to jail after the rejection of his bail.

The suspended nazim was arrested by police some two days ago from district courts when he came there to pursue cases.

The anti-corruption establishment had registered a corruption case against the suspended nazim a few months back.

RECOVERED: The body of a youth was fished out by professional divers after 24 hours from the Upper Chenab Canal on Thursday.

Reports said Zohaib Butt went to canal to take bath along with his friends, but he did not return home. The divers recovered the body from the canal and handed it over to his heirs.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...