7 recaptured after Bahawalnagar jailbreak

Express Tribune

04-04-2025

The suspects of a notorious dacoit gang who had escaped from the CIA police station lockup in Bahawalnagar were re-arrested after a search operation.
Three of the seven fugitives were apprehended the same night, while the remaining four were captured three days later.
The suspects, wanted for multiple cases of robbery and theft, had recently been detained under case number 122/25, section 395 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in Bakshan Khan. However, instead of being held legally, they were allegedly kept in illegal custody at the CIA police station for ten days.
Even after their re-arrest, police have remained tight-lipped about their identities, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of their capture.
The escape occurred on Chand Raat, the night before Eid, when the in-charge of the CIA police station had left for home, leaving only two constables, Abdullah and Ghaffar, on duty. However, one of them, Constable Abdullah, was absent, leaving just Constable Ghaffar to guard the entire facility.
Taking advantage of the lapse in security, the suspects managed to break out of the lockup and flee.
Upon learning of the escape, Bahawalnagar police launched a search operation involving personnel from three different police stations.
A police spokesperson confirmed that while three suspects were re-arrested the same night, the remaining four were caught after a three-day manhunt.
Senior police officials have taken strict notice of the escape, ordering SDPO Chishtian Circle to conduct a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings highlight negligence on the part of the CIA police station in-charge and security lapses. Sources indicate that disciplinary action is expected against those responsible for the oversight.
The escape and subsequent re-arrest of the suspects have exacerbated concerns over rising crime in Bahawalnagar. In the jurisdiction of Manchanabad police, near Pakpattan district, locals report being terrorized by dacoits who openly demand extortion.
The gang allegedly uses gunfire and other threats to intimidate residents into compliance. Disturbing video footage from affected areas shows helpless citizens pleading for protection, painting a picture of lawlessness.
Meanwhile, in Bahawalnagar city, incidents of violent crime continue to rise. On Chishtian Road, a citizen was assaulted and robbed of cash. Another robbery on Haroonabad Road left a victim without his belongings.
In Mohalla Farooqabad, a resident was physically attacked during a mugging.
The recent transfer of Bahawalnagar's District Police Officer (DPO) has further shaken public confidence.
Since the new DPO's appointment, crime rates have surged, with station house officers (SHOs) and other officials allegedly engaging in bribery instead of tackling criminal activities.
In 2025 alone, Bahawalnagar has reported over 100 cases of robbery and mugging, more than 200 motorcycle thefts, and over 100 incidents of livestock and mobile phone theft.
Citizens attending open courts to lodge complaints face humiliation at the hands of bureaucratic mafias, who create hurdles instead of facilitating justice.
Residents claim that these sessions are held merely for photo ops, with no real intention of addressing public grievances. Insiders reveal that a powerful group of officials, stationed in the District DPO office for years, wields considerable influence over police affairs.
This entrenched lobby allegedly manipulates every incoming DPO, preventing genuine reform efforts and enabling a culture of corruption and inefficiency.