SAHIWAL: Four suspects, including two revenue officials and as many brothers, on Wednesday managed to flee from the anti-corruption establishment court after cancellation of their interim bail in a widow land-grabbing case. Suspects Patwari Sharafat Ali, Qanoongo Zakir Hussain and brothers Zafar Iqbal and Mazhar Iqbal escaped from the court of Special Judge Asif Bashir after their bail was cancelled. They were accused of fraudulently transferring nine Kanal and 19 Marla of land, belonging to a widow, Hameedan Bibi, to their names. Reports said Hameedan Bibi, a resident of village 51/GD, purchased the agricultural land on May 25, 2019. However, during the lengthy transfer process, officers from the revenue department, in collusion with local landlords Asghar Ali, Mazhar Iqbal, Zafar Iqbal, and Akhter Ali, fraudulently transferred the land to their names instead of the owner, despite her full payment to Asghar. Following the widow’s complaint, the ACE Sahiwal circle launched an inquiry and, on Sept 5, 2023, booked seven people, including two revenue employees, on corruption charges. The ACE had arrested Asghar Ali on Aug 29, 2024, but the remaining suspects secured interim bail. On Wednesday, four of the suspects appeared in the court, but when the judge cancelled their interim bail, they fled. Interestingly, there were no ACE officials present in the courtroom at the time the judgment was announced, allowing the suspects to escape. When contacted, ACE Regional Director Khalid Masood Farooq said he was in Lahore for another case and was unaware of the incident at the time. A source close to the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, said suspects often take advantage of breaks in court proceedings to escape. Later, Director Khalid Masood confirmed that the judgment was announced around 3:30pm, but none of the suspects were present in court at that time.