Malir jailbreak exposes systemic flaws

KARACHI: A recent jailbreak at District Jail Malir on June 3, 2025, has revealed alarming deficiencies in security measures, raising serious concerns about the negligence of the Sindh Prison and the Sindh Home Department.

Despite the facility’s official upgrade designation from the ‘Borstal Institute Landhi’ as a ‘Juvenile Correctional Centre’ dating back to 1993, no significant upgrades or improvements have been made in the past three decades, leaving the jail vulnerable to such incidents. Official record indicates that the security infrastructure at Malir Jail is critically lacking. There is no wireless communication system in place to facilitate direct connections between the jail administration, the Jail Superintendent and local district police in case of any emergency, besides there was no CCTV cameras installed in the prison.

Moreover, the absence of emergency sirens means that the jail remains unprotected against sudden threats. Over 30 years, the facility has failed to receive vital equipment such as walkie-talkies or enhancements to its physical structure, including much-needed upgrades to the height of prison walls, which does not align with the increasing juvenile inmate population. Additionally, there are no barbed wires atop the walls, nor have jammers been installed to prevent escapes. The failure to procure heavy-duty iron doors for secure confinement presents a continuous risk of jailbreaks. The lack of emergency alert systems, robust physical barriers, and proper locking mechanisms has made it alarmingly easy for inmates to exploit the outdated and ineffective facilities.

Sources at the Sindh Prison Department added that the recent jailbreak was particularly dramatic. Malir Jail, which can hold only 2,200 inmates, was housing over 6,000 at the time of the incident. Prison Department records indicate that of the sanctioned staff of 250, at least 150 should have been present at the jail, yet only 22 staff members were on duty at the time of incident. The incident was triggered by an earthquake that struck at 11:56 AM, leading to the breach of Barrack Number 3A. Following this, prisoners overwhelmed security and escaped through the main gate without facing significant resistance.

Although a guard stationed at the jail’s main office attempted to resist, the rest of the staff chose to prioritize their safety over confronting the escaping inmates. The Frontier Corps (FC) personnel stationed outside the jail responded with force, firing over 700 rounds.

Disturbingly, the Malir Jail administration failed to inform any law enforcement agencies, including the district police and Rangers, nor did they contact emergency number 15. The Malir Police initiated operation soon afterwards when the SHO observed some unusual situation around the jail and alerted the police. Rangers subsequently joined the scene. According to prison records, 225 inmates escaped in the chaos, with 149 recaptured out of them 82 apprehended by Malir Police from district areas of city and 76 still at large.

The scribe tried to contact the Home Department for their version but they remained unresponsive. However, Abdul Rasheed Channa spokesman of the Sindh Chief minister told The News that the Sindh government has taken this incident of the jail break seriously. An investigation into the matter is ongoing at a high level. A review of the security situation in all jails in the province, including Malir Jail, will be conducted, and a comprehensive plan will be formulated, and special measures will be taken on emergency basis to prevent such incidents in the future.

Mr. Channa added that strong action has been taken by changing in the Jail Laws to appoint any Police officer as IG Jail. Former IGP Jail, DIG Karachi Jail and Jail Superintendent of the Malir Jail have been suspended in connection if the same incident.