14 Prisoners Escape From Van En Route to Adiala Jail
As many as 14 under-trial prisoners escaped from a prison van on Monday while they were being moved from Kahuta to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, triggering an urgent police search operation and raising fresh questions about prisoner transport security. The incident reportedly occurred after the detainees overpowered security personnel during the transfer.
According to Rawalpindi police, City Police Officer Hamdani took immediate notice after reports emerged that prisoners had fled from the vehicle in the Sihala area. Senior officers were directed to reach the scene, collect details of the incident and supervise the operation to trace the escapees.
Police later confirmed that four of the escaped prisoners had been re-arrested during the search operation. Teams continued raids and area surveillance to locate the remaining prisoners, all of whom were under trial in different cases and had been in custody before the escape.
A police spokesperson said the escape took place after a violent altercation broke out among prisoners inside the van. Authorities believe the clash created an opportunity for the detainees to overpower guards and flee, though investigators are still examining how the security lapse unfolded.
The police statement added that the incident fell within the jurisdiction of Sihala police station in Islamabad district. Because the prisoners were being transported toward Adiala jail, coordination between Rawalpindi and Islamabad police authorities has become central to the search and inquiry.
Officials said the escaped prisoners would be arrested and dealt with according to law. The statement also confirmed that a departmental inquiry had been opened under the supervision of senior officers, with disciplinary action promised against any official found responsible for negligence or misconduct.
The escape has renewed concern over the safety of prisoner transport arrangements, particularly when under-trial detainees are moved between courts, hospitals and jails. Such transfers often require strict route planning, sufficient escort strength, secure vehicles and rapid communication between police units.
The incident follows other recent security lapses involving prisoners in the Rawalpindi region. Earlier this month, police booked two police officials and two other people after an under-trial prisoner escaped from Benazir Bhutto Hospital, where detainees are often taken for medical treatment under guard.
Pakistan has also seen larger jailbreak-related controversies in recent years, including the escape of more than 200 inmates from District Prison Malir in Karachi last year. That incident led to major administrative action, including removals and suspensions within the prisons department.
The latest escape will now test police coordination, accountability and emergency response. The immediate priority remains the arrest of the remaining fugitives, while the inquiry is expected to determine whether weak escort procedures, poor supervision or other failures allowed the prisoners to break free.