A two-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday adjourned hearing against deputy superintendent, jail, Taj Gohar, in a jail escape case. New hearing date will be fixed later on. The division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Sardar Muhammad Raz Khan and Justice Falak Sher heard arguments of counsels of respondents and adjourned the case. The court also observed to club all ten cases of the same incident for hearing.

Hafiz Zaman Advocate appeared before the court as counsel of the appellant, Inspector General Police (prisons), NWFP. Khalid Khan appeared before the court as counsel of two dismissed jail officials, Maqsood and Muhammad Sardar, head warden and warden, respectively.

Six prisoners escaped from the jail in 2001 during identification parade held under the supervision of Taj Gohar, deputy superintendent, jail, who was also acting as superintendent, jail, at that time.

Taking serious action against jail officials, NWFP governor dismissed ten jail officials including Taj Gohar, Maqsood and Muhammad Sardar.

All the ten dismissed officials challenged their dismissal in the Federal Services Tribunal and requested to change dismissal into retirement.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005