- Police fail to prevent assault on prisoner brought to court for hearing
- Sub-inspector suspended for negligence
A prisoner implicated in a murder case was assaulted by his rivals in the premises of the Sessions Courts in the presence of a heavy police contingent on Thursday.
Iftikhar, who was charged with Safdar’s murder, was attacked with knives and daggers by Safdar’s brothers Muzammal and Ramzan while he was being escorted to the courtroom for his hearing from Bakshi Khana in police custody.
Iftikhar was seriously injured when the assailants attempted to slash off his face and limbs. The injured was immediately rushed to Mayo Hospital where doctors have stated his condition to be critical.
The assailants’ enmity with the victim could be traced back to 2012 when he murdered Safdar. A case was registered against him in the city’s Shafiqabad Police Station. Iftikhar, originally a resident of Burewala, had been imprisoned since then and was brought to the court for hearing.
Fear gripped the Session Courts as those visiting the courts rushed out of the premises to avoid an untoward incident.
The police arrested the assailants and registered a case under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Islampura Police Station.
Before the incident occurred, the security had been beefed up in the city’s courts in wake of the terrorist attack on a senior judge of the Sindh High Court, Justice Maqbool Baqar. Lahore CCPO Chaudhry Shafique Gujjar had also visited the Session Courts and monitored the security situation at the courts.
Moreover, Lahore DIG Operations Rai Tahir has also remained adamant at ensuring a safe environment at the courts. He had said that 30 percent additional force had been deployed for the security of judges and courts, including Lahore High Court, Sessions Courts and Civil Courts, while additional patrolling vehicles would ensure the security of the courts. “A comprehensive strategy is needed to combat terrorism in the city and the police is trying its best to maintain law and order situation in the provincial capital,” the senior police official has said.
However, it remains a fact that a large contingent of police deployed at the courts and the policemen escorting the victim were unable to prevent the assault.
Nevertheless, taking action against the police’s negligence, Sub-Inspector Mehmood Butt has been suspended from service.
Later in the day, District and Sessions judge toured the vicinity and ordered for better security arrangements at the courts.