Police thwart attempt to free PTI prisoners in attack on Attock Jail vans in Islamabad
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Police arrested the persons involved in an attack on the prison vans and freed dozens of prisoners near Sanjgani Toll Plaza in Islamabad on Friday, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.
According to police, over 80 prisoners were being taken from Attock Jail to a court appearance in the federal capital when gunmen attacked the convoy. Reports said PTI MPAs were among the fugitives.
The 82 prisoners included two PTI lawmakers and four party workers.
“About 20 suspects riding in four vehicles attacked the prisoner vans near Sangjani Toll Plaza,” police said, adding that the suspected assailants were armed with weapons, sticks and stones.
“Four police officers were injured in the attack, while four attackers were arrested,” the police statement added. “Two vehicles and weapons belonging to the suspects were seized.”
Teams were formed to arrest the suspects and police also started search operations in different areas, while all escaped prisoners were recaptured by police, according to the statement.
“The police teams handled the whole situation very bravely,” it added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6lf8gIsbWk
One of the prison vans was transporting PTI MPAs Anwar Zaib, Liaquat, and Yasir Qureshi, the reports said, adding that the vans were ambushed at Sangjani Toll Plaza where the attackers burst off the tyres of the prison vans.
Police sustained wounds in the attack and were shifted to hospital, the reports maintained, adding the lawmen sprang into action and arrested four of the attackers and all the fugitives after an operation.
Federal Information Minister Ata Tarar praised the police for foiling the bid.
He swiped at the PTI, saying the incident was a well-planned attack.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has always done politics of violence, he said, adding that the attack was like a film story.
“Like gangsters, the prisoner van was attacked.”
The federal minister praised the police for re-arresting the fugitives and stressed that the state's writ will be maintained at all costs.
He said the masterminds and all the persons involved in the incidents will be brought to book.