BACK-to-back jailbreaks in different regions do not inspire confidence in the capabilities of law enforcers tasked with keeping penitentiaries secure. On Sunday, 19 inmates managed a jailbreak from Azad Kashmir’s Rawalakot jail. This security lapse was followed by reports on Monday that three inmates managed to flee from a sub-jail in Balochistan’s Duki town.

In both cases, those who escaped were prisoners convicted of heinous crimes. In the Rawalakot episode, there had been clear warning signs that security on the premises was not up to the mark. For example, the jail building is reportedly derelict and the facility unsuitable for housing hardened criminals.

But it is not just far-flung areas of the country where jail security leaves much to be desired. Last week in Karachi, the prime suspect in the murder case of a young engineer fled from the City Courts where he had been brought for a hearing. According to reports, the suspect managed to push a police constable out of the way and disappear into the adjacent bustling commercial area.

Whether it is maximum-security prisons or smaller lock-ups, a proper audit is needed to ensure that dangerous individuals undergoing trial or who are already convicted are not able to escape and continue with their nefarious activities. A larger view of jails is also required.

For instance, serious overcrowding in jails makes managing the premises a huge problem. And in cases of cities such as Karachi, where the main jail is located inside a densely populated area, penitentiaries should be shifted to more isolated locales to protect the population, and manage security breaches more easily.

The authorities should not take these jailbreaks lightly. Already crime levels are high in the country. If those convicted of murder, rape or terrorism are able to break free and return to the streets, it will not reflect well on the competence of our criminal justice system.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2024