213 prisoners escaped from Malir Jail, 78 rearrested: IG Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon on Tuesday revealed 213 inmates escaped Malir Jail, of which 78 have since been rearrested.

 Sindh IG said the escaped prisoners from Malir Jail who surrender willingly will be dealt with in a lenient manner. However, he clarified that those arrested by the law enforcement officials will be dealt with sternly under the law.

Memon affirmed that a total of 213 prisoners escaped, with 78 having been rearrested so far, while approximately 138 are still missing from the jail.

Contrary to reports that had emerged, Sindh IG Ghulam Nabi Memon clarified that the prisoners did not escape by breaching the prison wall, but had left via the jail gate.

He pointed out that most of the Malir Jail prisoners are addicts, and because they have impaired cognitive functions, they might not have realized the implications of their actions.

Following a recent earthquake, the prisoners had been assembled in an open compound as a precaution against getting hurt from falling buildings.

Sindh IG said that special teams were being set up to catch the remaining fugitives, and operations are continuing in the area.

He also said that Frontier Constabulary (FC) officers had attempted to block the escaping prisoners and were compelled to fire warning shots because the escapees were too many escapees.

In the melee, a prisoner lost his life, while some FC personnel were injured. IG Sindh commended the FC personnel’s bravery and quick response, stating that their quick response averted a much wider breakout.

The authorities continue to appeal to the remaining escapees to surrender themselves voluntarily to avoid further legal consequences.