KARACHI, Oct 15: At least five prisoners were killed and 11 others were injured when guards opended fire to quell what was described as a revolt at the Malir Jail in Landhi on Wednesday. The inmates set on fire the office of the jail chief.

Chief minister’s adviser on prisons Gul Mohammed Jakhrani told Dawn that the prisoners were killed when they tried to break the jail and the guards had to open fire to foil their attempt.

The adviser said the attempt to break jail was masterminded by prisoner Akram Maroof who and others would be booked accordingly.

Witnesses said the trouble started at around 2.30pm when a group of prisoners went amok and started ransacking the office of the jail superintendent and the record room. They attacked prison guards with stones and then set the jailer’s office on fire.

Sindh prisons’ chief IG Yameen Khan told Dawn that two prisoners were killed in the penetentiary while the others died in the JPMC. “At least 11 prisoners and two prison guards were injured,” he added.

Mr Khan said the guards opened fire when some prisoners attempted to climb the boundry wall and the others broke open the main gate. He said that jail guards, backed by police and Rangers, brought the situation under control by 11pm.