PTI MPAs among fleeing inmates rearrested after gun attack on prison vans in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Armed assailants have attacked three prison vans carrying several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, government workers and cops detained in the D-Chowk protest case, sources told Geo News on Friday.
The unidentified attackers carried out a gun attack on three prison vans transporting "82 accused, including PTI members of provincial assembly (MPAs), government officials, and policemen, to Attock jail" after court hearing.
One of the prison vans was transporting PTI MPAs Anwar Zaib, Liaquat, and Yasir Qureshi.
The armed attack occurred at Sangjani Toll Plaza where the attackers burst tyres of the prison vans, the police sources said.
They added that it was like an ambush as the armed men had already taken position before the arrival of the vans at the toll plaza.
The attackers burst tyres of the vans and later opened fire on the cops, leaving several policemen wounded who were swiftly shifted to the hospital.
Following the armed attack, Inspector General (IG) Islamabad Police Ali Nasir Rizvi told Geo News that 82 prisoners were present in the prison vans who were being transported to Attock jail after being produced before a court in the federal capital.
He said that all inmates, who fled after the attack, have been rearrested as police foiled the bid to escape. Rizvi confirmed that the fleeing inmates also include two MPAs who have also been taken into custody again.
The Islamabad police chief claimed that four out of 18-20 attackers, including an MPA’s son, a policeman, and two other individuals, were also apprehended by security officials.