Two police officers sentenced over prisoners’ escape from custody in Gujranwala

A special anti-corruption court in Gujranwala has handed down prison sentences to police personnel in connection with the escape of two prisoners from a police custody vehicle nearly a decade ago. The verdict brings to a close a case that dates back to 2016, when the inmates managed to flee while being transported from jail to court for a scheduled hearing.

Announcing the judgment, the judge of the Special Anti-Corruption Court sentenced Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Nawazish Ali and Constable Bashir Ahmed six years in prison each .In addition to the jail terms, both officers were fined PKR 150,000 each. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in additional legal consequences as prescribed under the law.

The court also imposed a significantly harsher sentence on the driver of the prisoner transport vehicle, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The judgment concluded years of legal proceedings related to the high-profile escape, which had raised serious concerns about the handling of prisoners and security arrangements during court transfers.

According to court records, the case was originally registered on May 30, 2016, at the Civil Lines Police Station in Gujranwala. The prosecution argued that the police personnel responsible for escorting the prisoners failed to perform their duties with the required level of care, ultimately enabling the escape.

The prosecution told the court that the two prisoners were being transported from jail to the district courts for a routine court appearance. While the prisoner van was parked outside the district courts, associates of the inmates allegedly approached the police escort.

Investigators said the accomplices offered the police officers juice that had been laced with an intoxicating substance. After consuming the drink, the officers reportedly lost consciousness, leaving the prisoners without proper supervision.

Taking advantage of the situation, the two inmates managed to escape from the prisoner van before authorities realized what had happened. The incident triggered a large-scale police response and led to an extensive investigation into how the escape had occurred despite the presence of armed security personnel.

Police officials stated that the escaped prisoners had been in custody in connection with murder and terrorism cases, making their escape a matter of serious public concern. Their disappearance prompted security agencies to launch search operations and review prisoner transport procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

During the trial, prosecutors maintained that the negligence of the escorting officers and the transport staff had directly contributed to the successful escape. The court ultimately agreed with the prosecution’s arguments and held the accused officials responsible for failing to ensure the secure custody of the prisoners.

The verdict underscores the importance of strict security protocols when transporting high-risk inmates between prisons and courts. Prisoner transfers are considered one of the most sensitive responsibilities of law enforcement agencies, particularly when individuals facing serious criminal charges are involved.

With the announcement of the judgment, the decade-old case has reached its legal conclusion. The ruling serves as a reminder of the accountability expected from public officials entrusted with maintaining public safety and ensuring that individuals in custody remain under secure supervision throughout judicial proceedings.