Four policemen injured in attack by armed attackers on prisoners’ vans in Islamabad – ThePrint – PTIFeed

Islamabad, Oct 25 (PTI) Gunmen attacked vans carrying prisoners on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Friday, injuring at least four policemen escorting the prisoners.

Police said attackers attacked three prison cars at Sangjani Toll Plaza near Islamabad while they were transporting 82 prisoners arrested during a protest by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party at D-Chowk in the capital.

It said the prisoners were being transferred to Attock Prison after appearing before a district judge when about 20 suspects in four vehicles attacked the delivery vans.

The attackers were found to be loaded with weapons such as sticks and stones.

“Four police officers were injured in the attack and four attackers were arrested,” he added in a statement. “Two vehicles and weapons belonging to the suspects were seized.” The statement also said that police had formed teams to arrest the suspects and launched searches in various areas.

It said prisoners who escaped during the attack were recaptured by police.

According to details, the prisoners included 34 arrested Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police officers, 42 Rescue 1122 personnel and six PTI leaders, including two provincial legislators. They were taken to Islamabad for investigation.

Meanwhile, the government and PTI exchanged allegations, accusing each other of involvement in the attack.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the attack was carried out by PTI to free prisoners and warned that suspected attackers would be arrested.

“It was a planned attack,” Tarar said, adding that action would be taken against the perpetrators.

PTI leader Sheikh Waqqas Akram in a video statement condemned the attack and alleged that Islamabad police were behind it.

He said the accused were released from the case but the government arrested them in another case.

He said that Tarnol Police Station in Islamabad staged the attack to file a fresh case against them.

“Tarnol SHO (station officer) Shabbir Tanoli and his team broke the windows of the prison van, opened the doors, forcibly pulled out the prisoners and told them to stand up,” Akram claimed.

He urged the media to come to the scene and alleged that the authorities were trying to jail PTI supporters in another case. PTI SH PY PY PY

This report is auto-generated from PTI news website. ThePrint is not responsible for its content.