An arrested leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) escaped from police custody after seven armed men attacked a police team at district courts here on Friday.
Police said ANP leader Saeedur Rehman came to the court of Additional Sessions Judge Azam Khan to get interim bail in a case of fraud registered against him at Kohsar Police Station. However, the court rejected his plea and ordered the police to arrest him. After arresting the accused, the police took him out of the court in order to take him to the police station. However, six armed men started beating up police officials outside the court, and the ANP leader escaped with the attackers during the scuffle. Surprisingly, the officials of Kohsar police, who were equipped with sophisticated weapons, did not put up any resistance. After the incident, police launched a search operation but could not find any clue of the fugitive politician or his accomplices. Later, the Margalla Police lodged an FIR (first information report) against the seven accused for attacking police officials and freeing the arrested politician. However, the FIR does not mention any police officials responsible for letting the arrested leader escape.
Saeedur Rehman contested the 2008 elections on the ANP ticket from the NA-131 constituency in Shangla, but lost to then-Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Amir Muqam.
