A high-profile escape on the motorway has put Rawalpindi Police under intense scrutiny after a former senior revenue officer managed to flee from police custody in a dramatic incident. The escape has raised serious questions about police negligence and resulted in the arrest of three officers responsible for escorting the suspect.
The escaped individual previously served as an additional commissioner in Sialkot and is wanted in a fraud case registered by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment. The allegations involve forgery, and he had been under official detention while the investigation proceeded.
According to the FIR registered at Chakri Police Station, the suspect was transferred from Lahore to Rawalpindi on November 12 for a court hearing. On November 13, he was being escorted back to Lahore after the court sent him on judicial remand. During the journey on the motorway, the police van stopped at a rest area because the suspect requested to use the washroom.
As soon as the vehicle stopped, the suspect’s associates, who were already waiting at the location, intervened. Exploiting the distraction, they managed to pull the suspect into their own vehicle and sped away, leaving the escorting team stunned.
The police initially attempted to contact the escorting officer on November 15, at which point he admitted that the suspect had escaped two days earlier. He cited fear and embarrassment for not immediately informing his superiors and admitted to attempting a personal search before reporting the incident.
The delayed reporting compounded the seriousness of the case. Rawalpindi Police have arrested three officers for negligence and registered a case against them, with an investigation underway to determine whether the escape resulted from carelessness or possible facilitation.
Rawalpindi SSP Operations Kashif Zulfiqar stated that the matter is being thoroughly investigated, with search operations, pickets, and raids set up at multiple locations to track the missing suspect.
Authorities remain confident that the individual will be recaptured soon. The dramatic escape has caused embarrassment for the department and sparked discussions about the security protocols for high-profile detainees, highlighting gaps in the management of police custody and escort procedures.
