Two high profile terror suspects in Pakistan escaped

Security forces in northern Pakistan have launched a search operation for two militants who had been involved in the killing of 10 foreign tourists in 2013, officials said Friday.

Four militants escaped from a jail in Gilgit, a main city in Northern Pakistan, early in morning, senior official Sibtain Ahmad said.

One prisoner was killed while another injured in firing by the guards, he said.

A group of militants, dressed in military uniform, attacked a base camp of tourist at Gilgit-Baltistan in June 2013, killing 10 foreigners and their one local guide.

The Taliban-linked "Jundu-ul-Hafsa" group claimed responsibility.

Ahmad, Interior Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, said there was no attack from outside and the prisoners escaped at 2:45 a.m., local time.

Two high profile prisoners, Habib-ur-Rehman and Liaquat, escaped .

The government suspended the jail superintendent and a warden for negligence while inquiry has been initiated about the incident, the official said.

Security forces are conducting a search operation in the area and security has also been stepped up in the jail. The authorities announced a reward of two hundred thousand rupees for those who will provide information about the escaped prisoners.

The latest incident has raised concerns about security of prisons at a time when the government has lifted a moratorium on executions of what the authorities call hardcore terrorists. Nearly 22 militants on the death row had been hanged since the Taliban attack on the army school in Peshawar in December that killed 150 students and staff members.

In July 2013, the Tehreek-e-Taliban insurgents had attacked the Central Prison in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan, and 230 prisoners including Hardcore Terrorists escaped after a gunbattle with security forces,

Also in 2012, about 400 prisoners were freed when the Taliban attacked a prison in Bannu, a major city in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Endi