Islamabad: The standoff in a Pakistani prison on July 25 had a gruesome end, with the killing of five prisoners and three judges held hostage by them, after a deadly fire fight during an operation for the release of the judicial officers.

The prisoners were holding 39 people including 15 judicial officials hostage in a jail in the border city of Sialkot in Central Punjab province, officials said.

The hostage drama ended after hours of deadly shootings between the law enforcement agencies and the armed prisoners, during which the inmates shot dead the three judges.

Earlier reports had said the prisoners had taken hostage five judges, who came to inspect the prison and over 50 female inmates hostage in an attempt to escape from prison.

One judge injured in the shootout is stated to be in critical condition.

Five people including one policeman and several other persons were also injured in the firing by the prisoners, who had demanded a van, arms and safe passage out of jail, deputy inspector general Malik Mohammad Iqbal said.

One child is also reported injured in the fire.

The five inmates, serving sentences for kidnapping, had attacked the judicial officials while they were inspecting a section of the prison where women are kept and took them hostage in the women's barracks.

The police say they are investigating as to how the prisoners got weapons and mobile phones.

The hostage takers had earlier demanded a 74-seater bus, five Kalashnikovs and safe passage from the prison in their negotiations with the jail officials.

The inmates had assured freedom of the hostages after they are allowed to get out of the jail.

Police had got released three judges including the district and sessions judge of Sialkot who were held by the prisoners.

PTI