‘Political prisoner’ escapes from Herat jail

HERAT CITY (PAN): The authorities in western Herat province on Wednesday confirmed a political prisoner, a government reference to insurgents, has escaped from the Central Jail.

The detainee, Qari Ghulam Rasoul, was sentenced to 20 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court on July 2, 2009 on the charges of supporting and facilitating armed groups against the government, Herat Attorney Gul Ahmad Ramesh told Pajhwok Afghan News. 

Ramesh said the intelligence department had informed him about the escape. He would not go into details. “The matter is being investigated by police,” he said.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some jail officials were being interrogated about the incident.

Nearly 2950 prisoners, including 153 women, are held at the facility in Herat City.

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