ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, if you can`t break the law, at the very least you can bend it, and nowhere is it more evident than the lower court premises of the capital. The police officers deployed there have been conveniently turning a blind eye to illegal practices right under their noses.These days just about anyone can walk up to criminals and under-trial prisoners (UTPs), exchange pleasantries and goods such as weapons and keys to handcuffs, and even spike drinks to help prisoners escape. The police in the process have lost all authority and criminals remain unintimidated by them.

Take, for instance, the October 6 incident in which a UTP, Gul Mohammad, was able to wriggle out of his handcuffs and take charge of a rifle, blatantly bullying and flouted authority.

On Thursday, Mohammad charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery, brawl and carrying illegal arms was brought to the Islamabad District and Session Court for a hearing from Adiala Jail.

Shortly after his arrival, Mohammad objected to being detained at the Session Court lockups (bukhsi khana) and demanded he be moved to the Civil Court lockups. When the police guard refused to accept his demand, Mohammad, wellknown as a bully and brute, pressured other UTPs to not appear before the courts for hearing.

`The UTPs were scared of him and cowered,` said one officer.

Consequently, the hearingschedule of the court was completely disrupted.

Later as he was being forcefully led to appear before the court, Mohammad managed to free his hands from his handcuffs. He then snatched a rifle from a policeman near the courtroom but was overpowered before he could use the weapon.

`There is a possibility that he was provided a key by a police guard which helped him in opening the handcuff,` a senior officer alleges. `He was extremelyemboldened by the lackadaisical attitude of the police officers, and continued being abrasive even with the judge and annoyed him.` For the timebeing, Mohammad has been charged under various offences, including obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions, resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, and criminal intimidation.

Police officers said that concerns had been raised over Mohammad`s behaviour and a request was pending with the chief commissioner Islamabadhis trial within the jail premises.

`Another request has been filed following this,` said an officer, `he is a hardened criminal and his acts can put the lives of others at risk.

However, this was not an isolated incident at the low-er court. Earlier on September 17, a UTP and a police guard were shot at by an attacker who had managed to slip in the court premises with a gun hidden in a book. The officers allege that the attack had been planned by the UTP only.

In another incident, policemen including an ASI took UTPs to a nearby juice shop on their request after their hearing instead of their lockups. The UTPs met with their relatives and friends at the shop, who hadspiked the drinks. The policemen fell unconscious and the UTPs managed to escape.

On April 15, two handcuffed UTPs facing charges ofrobberies had escaped from the courts`premises.

Outlaws clearly have been given a free hand in the capital`s lower courts to commit crime freely. `Such incidents put the lives of visitors at risk as well as those of the judges, senior police officers and administration staff deployed in the vicinity,` said one police officer.

Senior police officials claim that a request has been made for the deployment of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) personnel to counter such incidents. `The policemen deployed at these courts are under-trained and under-equipped to perform sensitive tasks such as escorting and guarding,` said one officer.

Worsening the shortage oftrained policemen is the casual attitude adopted by their other colleagues guarding UTPs.

There are some serious allegations of widespread corruption among them. Senior officers say that there are reports of policemen accepting money from relatives to allow them to meet UTPs, and getting favours, such as clothes, mobile and other gadgets, in return.

`Many policemen also arrange for contrabands such as narcotics and calling cards and food from restaurant for the UTPs,` he added.

Oftentimes, relatives also hand over clothes and utensils to the UTPs right in front of the policemen who rarely bother to conduct a search.

`Many of them are corrupt and have helped facilitate the escape of many prisoners from the court,` they added.

Indeed, in some cases relatives and friends have handed over tools and keys of handcuff to the UTPs which helped them to escape from the custody or attack others Officers add that while security is being provided to courts, it was next to impossible to stop and search the sheer volume of individuals visiting the court.

Unfortunately, action cannot be taken for these illegal practices as no one has come forward with an official complaint about the careless attitude of such junior officers, claim some senior officers.

`A major disaster will occur if this is not checked, said one officer.