ISLAMABAD, Feb 03: Minister of State for Interior, Muhammad Talal Badar, informed the Senate on Tuesday that 19 prisoners escaped from police custody over the past four years, with 15 of them successfully re-arrested.
During Question Hour, he addressed inquiries regarding the incident, revealing that both disciplinary and criminal actions have been initiated against 32 police officers due to negligence and non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The minister stated that four prisoners remain at large, but efforts are ongoing to capture them. Additionally, major penalties have been imposed on 17 officers responsible for supervisory lapses, with 13 criminal cases filed against police personnel for negligence contributing to the escapes.
Investigations highlighted failures in observing SOPs for the transportation and court appearance of detained persons, leading to these incidents. The minister assured that strict action was taken indiscriminately wherever negligence was confirmed.
In response to Senator Talha Mahmood’s supplementary question, the minister emphasized that no space exists for illegal or private detentions in Islamabad, reaffirming that all arrested individuals are presented before the court within 24 hours, following legal mandates.
