Fugitive from Malir Jail commits suicide after releasing video statement

Karachi: A 25-year-old fugitive prisoner from District Jail Malir, who recently escaped custody, was found dead after he allegedly committed suicide on Thursday at his sister's home in Madni Colony within the jurisdiction of the Mauripur police station.

According to police, the deceased youth, identified as Raza, son of Parvez, used a rope to hang himself from a ceiling fan. Rescue workers from the Edhi Foundation and local police reached the property and transferred the body to the Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities. Raza had been on the run since June 3 when he escaped the Malir Jail during the breakout involving several inmates.

He was previously arrested in a narcotics case registered at the Eidgah police station on March 30, 2022. Instead of returning to his home in Ranchor Line after the jailbreak, Raza took shelter at his sister’s house, fearing police raids.

A video message recorded by Raza before his suicide has surfaced on social media. In the emotional clip, Raza pleaded for justice and claimed that he was innocent. “I request to be released. I am not guilty. I escaped with the others because everyone was climbing over each other. There was gunfire in the jail. It felt like an earthquake. We ran to save our lives,” he said. He described his escape, stating that he was injured during the chaos and had to walk for a long time before finally reaching his sister’s house. Following standard procedure, the police handed over the body to the family after completing legal formalities. Investigations are under way to verify the circumstances surrounding his escape and subsequent death.