GUJRANWALA, Nov 8: As many as 16 high-ranking officers, including a DIG, two DPOs and as many doctors, escaped from the court when the judge cancelled their bails in the Sialkot jail firing case here on Monday.

The anti-terrorism court No 1 was hearing the case of killing of four judges during an abortive rescue bid last year when a team of judges was taken hostage by five outlaws during a visit to the jail. These officers held guilty in initial inquiries were on bail.

Complainant Advocate Ghulam Abbas Bukhari, the father of slain judge Shehr Yar Bukhari, moved the Lahore High Court for an early decision of the case. The high court, however, sent back the case to the ATC for early disposal on merit.

The ATC judge cancelled the bail of DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal, Gujrat DPO Raja Munawwar Husain, Sialkot's former DPO Amjad Javed Saleemi, two doctors of the Sialkot's Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital - MS Dr Firdous and duty in-charge Dr Sajjad - and 11 Elite Force personnel. As soon as the judge cancelled their bails, they escaped from the court.

TWO KILLED: A police constable and a labourer were shot dead by unidentified assailants here on Monday.

Reports said constable Liaquat Shaheen was on his way to village on the Pasrur Road after performing his duty at Sabzi Mandi police station when the outlaws opened fire on him.

He was rushed to the DHQ hospital where he breathed his last.

Abdul Ghafoor of Kangniwala was going to the factory. Near the main bazaar, the bandits opened fire on him killing him on the spot.

CASES SENT: The district drug committee has sent cases of 18 medical stores to drug courts for action while four owners were issued warning in a meeting at the DCO office.

The meeting was presided over by DCO Fazeel Asghar while EDO (health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Niazi and other senior officers also attended it.

The meeting was informed that a raiding team caught about 22 owners of medical stores while selling expired medicines.

Traffic police: The traffic police through a notification issued on Monday was banned from imposing fines on drivers before Eid.

It is stated that the traffic staff is collecting eidi from transporters on the pretext of checking documents of their vehicles. In this process, the corrupt officials extort money from them.

Traffic SP Muhammad Azeem Khan Leghari received complaints against the traffic staff of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Narowal. Taking action on these complaints, the SP barred all traffic staff and inspectors from challanning the drivers.

He warned that stern action would be taken against the corrupt traffic police staff.

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