On Friday, an audacious attack on three prison vans at the Sangjani Toll Plaza in Islamabad resulted in the escape of several prisoners, including three Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to police sources, unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicles carrying 187 detainees, who were being transported to Attock Jail after recent court appearances.
The attackers, estimated to number between 25 and 30, opened fire as the prison vans approached the plaza, targeting the vehicles’ tyres and forcing them to halt. Police officers on board sustained injuries during the shootout and were later taken to a hospital. In the chaos that ensued, some prisoners managed to escape, with law enforcement quickly mobilizing reinforcements to secure the area and initiate a manhunt for the absconders.
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police spokesperson confirmed the incident, describing it as a planned assault aimed at freeing individuals involved in terrorism-related cases from the recent PTI protests. Local sources indicated that while some escapees have been recaptured, including the son of an MPA, others remain unaccounted for.
In the aftermath, PTI leaders have labeled the attack as a staged incident orchestrated by the federal government, accusing the authorities of conspiring against the party. They claim that the incident reflects a growing trend of government conspiracies against PTI members, who they assert are being unjustly detained. Meanwhile, federal officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, condemned the incident as a failed attempt by PTI to orchestrate a rescue of its members, vowing that those responsible will face strict legal consequences.
