Mentally ill prisoner escapes from Lahore Services Hospital

A prisoner from Lahore Camp Jail escaped from Services Hospital while undergoing medical tests, prompting a large-scale search operation by local police, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

According to jail authorities, the prisoner, identified as Ahsan, was reportedly suffering from mental instability and had been brought to the hospital for a CT scan. Ahsan is facing charges related to sectarianism in Sheikhupura district.

 Ahsan was escorted to the hospital by a police team under the supervision of Sub-Inspector Khalid, the officer in charge of the police’s judicial wing.

The team included four other officials, who were tasked with ensuring the prisoner’s security during the medical visit.

Despite these precautions, Ahsan managed to evade the police officers by forcefully pushing past them and fleeing the hospital premises.

A search operation is underway to apprehend the escaped prisoner.

According to a spokesperson of the Punjab Jail Department, a prisoner, Ahsan Khan, son of Zafar Khan, who is a mentally ill patient and an accused in a blasphemy case, has escaped from police custody in Lahore.

The incident occurred while he was being escorted for a CT scan at Services Hospital. Ahsan Khan had been transferred from District Jail Sheikhupura to Camp Jail Lahore on June 28, 2024, specifically for medical treatment.

Ahsan Khan was under treatment at Lahore’s Mental Hospital, where doctors had recommended a CT scan as part of his medical evaluation.

Following these instructions, he was taken to Services Hospital under police custody.

However, during the procedure at the hospital’s CT scan room, Ahsan Khan managed to flee from police custody.

Authorities have since launched an intensive search operation to locate and apprehend the fugitive. Police officials have assured the public that efforts are ongoing, and they expect to recapture the escaped prisoner soon.