DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ PESHAWAR/ BANNU: More than 200 heavily armed Taliban militants travelling in several vehicles attacked the Central Jail in Bannu, Southern District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, releasing 384 prisoners in a pre-dawn assault on Sunday, officials said.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility for raiding the jail. TTP spokesperson Asimullah Mehsud told The Express Tribune from an undisclosed location that they (TTP) attacked the jail with hundreds of fighters. “The purpose was to free some of our men”, he said, adding “we attacked with 150 Fidaeen (suicide bombers) and took over the area for more than two hours.”
Four police officials who were injured in the attack were taken to the District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ). Another policeman on guard at the main gate of the police station said that dozens of the militants were in vehicles and hundreds of them were on foot carrying Ak-47s and rocket launchers. “The gate was rooted out after one fired a rocket at it” he explained. Residents of the area said militants had destroyed the boundary wall to aid in their escape.
A large number of militants had recently been moved to the jail from neighbouring Kohat and Lakki Marwat prisons, which are being converted into centres to rehabilitate former insurgents, the security official said.
Top militants freed
A senior official of the Township Police station told The Express Tribune that the FIR registered says that hundreds of militants attacked the Bannu central jail around 1:15am and 384 prisoners were released. He said, ‘Some of them are men that are most wanted’.
Explaining the category of the militants that managed to escape, the official said there were 20 men who were facing death sentences and are very dangerous.
‘Where is Adnan?’
Officials believe that the attacker’s main aim was to release Adnan Rashid, a former junior technician of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), allegedly involved in plotting the murder of former president Parvez Musharraf. Inspector General Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (IG) Akbar Khan Hoti, said that the whole plan seemed to have been for the release of the top militant.
A police official from the central jail, on condition of anonymity said that the militants entered the premises of the jail after firing hand grenades and rockets and the only question they asked was “Where is Adnan?”
“They spoke different languages” he claimed, adding that “their attire was typical to the Taliban with boots, grown hair and loaded with arms.”
An investigative officer said that there was English and Arabic jihadi literature recovered from the cell where Adnan was kept, along with other important evidence. He refrained from giving further details.
Adnan Rashid joined PAF as a junior technician in 1997. Security officials apprehended him from Balochistan in 2004 in connection with a plot to assassinate Musharraf. Sources said that he was shifted from Kohat to Bannu Jail some eigth months ago. Amongst the prisoners is also Aijaz, a militant who had previously managed to escape from the same jail. The names of the rest of the ‘most wanted’ could not be ascertained immediately.
Rehman Malik suspects inside job
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik suspected the involvement of certain prison officials in the attack, Express News reported.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, the interior minister added that the attack was due to security failure and that a high level enquiry will be conducted in this regard.
“We will find out about who had kept Adnan Rashid in Bannu jail,” Malik added.
The minister also announced a meeting of Inspector(s) General Jail from all over the country, on Wednesday, to discuss improvements in prison security in the country.
Malik also said that cellular service providers would be asked to block their service inside prisons. A mobile call traced to a Quetta jail revealed correspondence between banned outfits, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
COMMENTS (115)
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@Iqra: I am not being emotional m just telling the reality that how negative is our nation. Yes it does happen in other countries like Iran Iraq and Afghanistan even Africa has worse conditions than this. Than the question comes why us right? Go and search about the conspiracies against Muslim countries and you will get to know just saying everything without any knowledge is very easy m just telling you that live at their place for one day only and you will get all the answers.
Et !! Its time for moderator to check which direction the COMMENTS are taking. With the introduction of Indian commentators (Who are most welcome if they don't construe the on going discussion) every topic is being distorted out of context. Kindly check and weed out such commentators because definitely we criticize our government and institutions but don't ridicule and disgrace them. These commentators our attacking the country, theme of its existence and Islam which is highly undesirable and converting this forum into anti- Pakistan debate. I hope these of my views are published.
Great this is the only Country where in a prison Breaks & ARMY was not called & the Govt is SLEEPING
I'm just amazed on our Courts.. what they are doing?? A person is caught red handed on the crime scene and court still need proves... Why Qadri is not hanged yet? He is the killer of sitting Governor. Are they still practicing that notorious so-called "Nazaria-e-Zarorat". Sentiments of clerics are superseding the Justice. Why putting so much burdon on prison department and also on the pockets of the taxpayers? Just hang all such culprits and give relief to jails. Or wait for another such attack so that they share our burden
The whole incident smells.
Someone should own up to this fiasco. The jail gate looked like it was bulldozed. It was not the gate of a jail. Houses in Karachi have stronger iron gates.
“we attacked with 150 Fidaeen (suicide bombers) and took over the area for more than two hours.”
And they injured just Four police officers !!!
Nearly 400 terrorists escaped from a jail and security people were enjoying morning tea, this happens only in Pakistan.
TTP(Hypothetically): "If you can protect Osama from U.S. Why can't we protect our own from You & the U.S".
All Drone Strikes must Go full speed & Full force! If terrorist can knowingly kill innocent civilians at-least drone try to avoid them. The Extremists & their supporters will not stop at the killings of women, children, civilians or their protectors. Why should Drone Strikes be stopped? If we can't handle security let the NATO take care of it. There is no meaning of sovereignty when we are unable to hold or stop the criminals from attacking other countries & their citizens.Why are we listening to these "Jamaats" anyway; who fed, bred & protect the radicals.
@Basit: Yeah. Pak Army just doesn't do anything because of lack of care for civilians.
Lollywood can make million by making movie by name "Great escape from Bannu" Like Hollywood movie Great Escape.
This is like looting the bank. Are the strategic assets insured ?
I see some differences between fake Zaid Hamid and the real Zaid Hamid. The real one is far more virulent and obnoxious.
@True Muslim Paki: "I hate this fake Zaid Hamid always making a mockery of Pakistan`s Patriotic Peoples like Zaid Hamid, Sir Imran Khan & also Hafiz Syed ."
Don't you think that the fake Zaid Hamid is more fun than the real one and the fake one is harmless when compared to the real one?
"Why ET is letting such posts?"
Because ET and many of its readers have a sense of humor and the fake Zaid Hamid provides a lot of that rare commodity. By the way, all the people in your list of patriotic Pakistanis look up to the Taliban either overtly or covertly. So you should add Taliban to the top of "your" list of patriotic Pakistanis. I wonder what patriotism means to people like you.
@Pakistani:
"Another indian gloating on something which is none of your business.. Stay out of this as it is not your problem but ours…"
I am sure you hold the view that the Indian RAW is behind every bad thing happening in Pakistan. Right? Since this event is bad, from your POV RAW is obviously behind it. Since RAW is behind it from your POV, this is my problem too. Your POV has got me involved in this. So don't complain too loudly.
Is there anyone here who thinks that this magnitude of attack was NOT done with insider help? Insiders who agree with the Taliban ideology of putting religion over reason and humanity. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
I hate this fake Zaid Hamid always making a mockery of Pakistan`s Patriotic Peoples like Zaid Hamid, Sir Imran Khan & also Hafiz Syed . Why ET is letting such posts?
Shameful, speaks volumes of inadequacies in security systems in Pakistan. As such the courts are unable to convict any terrorist and now they are free without facing any trial. I feel Somalia is better governed than Pakistan.
And within 24 hours there are attacks in Afghanistan.
Strategic Assets, after Strategic Escape, trying to acquire Strategic Depth.
Useless PPP govnt and Rehman Malik who as Ministry of Interior is responsible for jails fails again. Army should take over police, jail and court system.
@raw is war: Mind your own business.... it has nothing to do with you...
I thought Bannu was always famous for kidnapping people for all the possibilities the area has to offer. But releasing someone is something new in Bannu.
@Naveed Alam Khattak: You can't just start firing from cobras in a civilian area. Pak Army does not act like NATO without any care for civilians.
The responsibility of the security for the jail was with police. Army has it's own duties and they do not include guarding a jail. It's difficult enough for army to guard it's own bases due to lack of funds and planning.
Only Americans can afford to spend millions and lock themselves up in concrete barriers. Pakistan cannot afford to provide such level of security and this is why peace is the only answer, not endless American mandated and liberal approved war.
Are we going to lodge protest with 'Strategic Assets' for violation of sovereignty now?
LoL !!
First of all, escaped prisoners were all not militants. Question is how many militants escaped? 39 prisoners came back according to the reports which is funny and ironical. Perhaps they thought life in jail is better than life with Taliban.
All 150 policemen should be suspended on duty. They put up no fight because noone was killed. Noone saw this "baraat" of militants entering and leaving police station. Thorough investigation and punishment should be given out. Imagine now how many more soldiers will be killed to capture these militants again and how many more civilians will face attacks form them? "Laanat" on whole administration.
deadly taliban are always accurate
@ Pakistani Hindu: 100% agree with you. I am unable to understand why anti-state elements are being kept so long in prisons? waiting for their escape? They don't keep soldiers and members of para-military forces for so long. Instead they just execute them quickly. Despite of having knowledge that they are not likely to be law abiding citizens, keeping them in cells are ridiculous. These elements plague other inmates as well. Just eliminate them as quickly as possible, don’t wait for another prison break.
looks like nothing can go right in Pakistan.
..and i am watching ABC(Alpha Bravo Charlie) these days
a good film may be made of this jail break.
@Iqra: Does this happen in other countries?? like 400 terrorists/suicide bombers fleeing the prison just like that, has the US ever invaded any other country like that? (not in a state of war). Maybe we do have questions to answer, think rationally too and not just emotionally.
More concerned about the one caught in Abottabad than the 400 that escaped in Bannu.
@Ch. Allah Dad: Excellent comment! @Naveed Alam Khattak: Thank you for your post.. Bannu fort with the army and all its resources, including choppers, is a short distance away. This whole prison break incident smells to high heaven and leads one to believe could not have been done without collusion from higher ups. And unfortunately the people who will bear the brunt will be innocent civillians. May Allah SWT keep them safe. Ameen.
@ddd: We will know when they are taken out too, one day and I fear not very far! Remember, Karachi incident when 2 of very expensive fighter jets were burned by the militants. Those jets surely weren't stored in bakery shelves either, or were they? If US can come half way into Pakistan and perform a successful operation without our great Armed forces knowing anything about it, I have no doubts left over the incompetency of our security agencies. Accept it now!
start search operation.
instead of finding how they escape find them.
Just leaving comments over here and blaming our agencies and court is very easy hat why the cases weren't preceded. Go at their place experience their threatened and insecure life first then say anything. Numerous soldiers are killed by a natural attack in Siachin, no1 is actually considering these people that they all are putting their lives on stakes and here we cant even appreciate them it is our bad fate that we only talk about negativity and attract negativity, all are pessimists that is why such negativity is happening with our country. Its just heartbreaking, your thinking and your comments!
@hyderabadi: even bin laden was not safe in pakistan.
Time has come for Pak army to withdraw from FATA. Let the people of FATA decide how they want to live.
its a senseless approach you have, try to make your thoughts able to think broad. it will be good for the country to think for its interest instead of criticizing someone like you did here. @Muhammad Rizwan Ali:
Come on people! I am sure Imran Khan will be able to "engage" these people. He might even be able to talk them into suicide bomb his rallies instead of the common people of Pakistan. Chill out, he will handle them.
The agencies are more concerned about the raid at night that caught Osama than the raid at night that set loose 400 inmates.
Were the prisoners not on "Exit Control List' ?
On the next exciting episode of PRISON BREAK
Guys this is a third world country how can they spend millions just to bring justice to these militants, this was expected.Best way to deal with this situation is bomb their sanctuaries,put all known trouble makers on notice with a option to live a normal life.For this to happen Pakistani have to change the narrative of their nation to one which can respect be part of the world narrative,simply blaming you institutions will not do, if you care about your country bring change in your mohalla , stop this useless disparate comments.
@hyderabadi: Agree with you! But this news is not funny at all! I am from Indian Hyderabad by the way!
national assets cannot be caged in- its a zaid hamidian/pakistanian truth
Taliban seems better coordinated across Afghanistan and Pakistan and dont seem answerable on 'sovereignty'. Meanwhile Isaf and Pak forces uncoordinated antagonistic and ultimately ineffective.
Falling apart, one incident at a time. The security agencies are useless. Waste of money.
Force vs Force, Power vs Power, Arms vs Arms = No End, No Peace
Where is ISI? Our intelligence. If 150 militants knew what to do so openly it's intelligence failure. They should penetrate in their social circles and tip off.
The day is not far off when this will happen to the strategic assests of Pakistan (Nuclear weapons). The Americans have the option of abandoning Afghanistan but it is goodbye to Pakistan's neighbors (India, Iran, Afghanistan & China) when that happens. Pakistan is too far gone to be saved in its present form. The only good option (from an outsiders point of view) is to take out its nukes and let some parts seccede or merge with other countries (like KP with Afghanistan & Baluchistan with Iran)
Totally shocking!. I had to rub my eyes twice to believe it was true,This is akin to a big slap on the face of the Pakistani security agencies and all of the effort has been thrown to the winds,While involvement of the jail administration can not be ruled out,we have to accept that the operational capacity and capability of the militants are far superior than our security forces,The arms and ammunition possessed by militants simply outclass those entitled to Police ,This is a major major setback.When will we start inducting more resources in to the police department who has been entrusted with the responsibility of our security.This incident demands an inquiry and those involved must not be spared,having said that i believe this is the high time we must strengthen our Police,make them a model,induct resources and sophisticated tools,Police must acquire state of the art machinery and tools to combat terrorism,until then we will have to live under the threat of annihilation.
This is ridiculous. Terrorist just came and freed almost 400 of their comrades from a highly fortified prison without killing even a single security guard! Perhaps, this is the only incident of its kind in the world.
@ashok: nuclear weapons are not stored in "bakery shelves " like cakes and biscuits....!!! what is more jails are under police force....but nuclear assets are under army control and multi layered defense forces.......!!!!
Hats off to Taliban ... kill every opposition of yours even it includes me ...
@Ravish: In your dreams... in your dreams... we are at a state of war with internal elements as well as foreign elements...
So when is the government announcing subsidy on suicide jackets?
@Ch Allah Daad: best comment ever
@Pollack: Another indian gloating on something which is none of your business.. Stay out of this as it is not your problem but ours...
Pakistan is the mother of failed states in every sense - political ,religious , economic ,and moral - and it breaks my heart that so many of my family members have fought wars for this country to end up in the state it has today
I think now, jamat Islami will blame, MQM involve in this incident also..haha
I think its a inside job. Otherwise, what were the Army & FC doing when the Bannu Jail is less than 15 kms away? The attack continued for 2 hours & easily the forces could have intercepted if they wanted. Bannu is also heavily fortified and i just dont understand why & how could it happen.
Also note that none of Guards have been killed. So, there definitely is something we really dont know.
Adnan Rashid, of PA convicted for the failed attempt to murder Musharaff had also, escaped the Bannu jail.
As passing through the road I observed several times that only some policemen were standing in front of the door alongwith a old vintage datsun. We have never seen any special security measure for this Jail. They were totally depending on the high walls of the jail. Also this jail is outside the city in open area. If someone have responded quickly especially with the help of Cobra Chopers, it was not even possible for these 150 people to escape. With the help of NVG they could become an easy target for the chopper and then there was no need to provide proofs to our honored courts that they were militants. They are killers of Pakistanis especially Pashtoons which they admit in front of media.
@Arshad Meo: Translation: US hurt our fragile little feelings.
Pakistan has become an anarchy.
The attack on Bannu Jail is an eye opener for all th law enforcing agencies to look for thier weaknesses and short falls. There may be more such like attacks, in some other areas, where even you just cant expect. the war on terror by USA has put the Pakistan in a dangerous position where by the inteernal threat is more severe then the external threat. If Pakistan chooses a straight approach, what the majority of the people says, May be there is a better solution. USA dictations will never deliver good for the countries occupied by them.
So much protest against Drones.. the job being done by Americans which actually is Pakistan's job. Pakistan looks woefully incompetent to clean this mess alone.
Why were so many being kept together in prison. They should all have been killed for their treason.
@Pollack: How easy is to bark and rebuke some powerful entity without disclosing one identity Mr. Pollock. Come up with your assets and let the world know who is more stronger. Otherwise keep your mouth shut and enjoy the game
It was claimed that 11 persons were sprung out of Adiala prison by TTP associates.Turned out to be different.
Repeat of the same story?
Even prisoners aren't safe in Pakistan.
@Kannan Vivekananda who writes "The burden falls on the tax-paying citizen, who is the ultimate loser, as always happens."
Hahaha. Don't worry. Very few pay taxes in Pakistan.
Pakistan is more lawless than what this news depicts. When countrymen don't pay taxes, can it get worse than this?
I think Pakistanis should stop blaming their military, mullahs, politicians and start blaming themselves.
By the way, will anyone take responsibility and resign their position? Probably not. The army leaders are "divine". The "divine" cannot be questioned.
The Pakistan army has an excuse. They were busy handling the siachen incident. It will be interesting to watch the consequences of these "strategic assets" of the "strategic depth" fame being on the loose..
This is totally a security breach. This jail is on the main Kohat-Bannu road and not in abandoned area. FC troops are at a distance of only 5 - 10 minutes drive on the same road near Kurram Bridge and Bannu Fort which is full of Army is at a distance of 25-30 minutes. there are also lot of police check posts on the same road at the same location known as Bannu Town. I couldn't understand how 150 people managed to reach the jail and the police and law enforcement agencies were completely unware. Where was QRF (Quick Reaction Force sitting at Bannu Fort) ? Where were the cobra chopers sitting in the Bannu Fort. This is a shame for our security forces. If they could not respond to the attack in settled area how can we believe that they will respond well in violent areas. Lot of murderers and militanst were in the jail and they escaped. If LEA would have responded quickly it was also not possible for those 150 people to escape.
Tsunami?????
People are not safe anywhere in Pakistan, not even in the prisons or GHQ.
Thanks to the judiciary for handing over of the terrorists to the civilian setups to ensure their sacred human rights. Thousands of soldiers who laid their lives in arresting them have been betrayed. Years of toil, blood sweat and resources have gone down the drain .
Lol@Ch Allah Daad:
For what we should be proud of our Army and ISI ? For their failure and humiliations or their empty words to be the best in world. They are taking lions share in Pakistani budget with ZERO out put. All these years they fooled us by scaring from India and keep filling their our pockets and maintain their hegemony. Its complete failure of ISI and other agencies whats happening in country. They are sheltering and promoting like DPC to defend us as they cant defend us any more. They are handing over goats to hungry barbarians to defend. May Allah protect this country and its lovely people.
Just incredible gloom.
I fear for many innocent Pakistani lives, especially minorities.
We used to say "It's just a few extremists"...
But really they are in the thousands and have armies and can literally take over settled towns and cities like Swat and can wreck havoc brutally. Let alone perhaps many more ideological sympathizers and apologists who share their violent hate, even in our establishments, who literally aid them and sabotage anti-terrorism efforts.
The civil war is still on going.
This is bad. This will serve as precedent for many more attempts in the future. On a side note, it does seem like a planned and coordinated move.
I read something quoted below about the current situation in Pakistan:
"I hope sociologists and psychologists learn all they can from Pakistan, and help explain to the entire world, not just for now, but for the generations to come, how and why civilization and humanity decays from within and without"
With Pakistan you are dealing with a country that has mass-schizophrenia...this dream of social psychologist is going to become world's worst nightmare.
This was the land where first university of the world was established in the city now called Taxila centuries before the advent of Islam or Christianity.
...Just imagine for a moment if it were a nuclear weapon storage pad site in Pakistan?
Conspiracy theory should start work now. CIA,RAW.Moosad are behind thisact
These special members could be experts in suicide bombing. It will add to the worries of Pakistan's police. May the Lord protect innocent people. This attack also raises question marks over the safety of Pakistan's nuclear facilities.
All escapees are hereby requested to please contact DPC or PTI offices and sign membership forms. Thanks.
And no one died? Meaning no one fought back. Wow. Amusement! Amusement!
How much man-hours and public money has been utilized in imprisoning the wrong-doers and everything is lost. The burden falls on the tax-paying citizen, who is the ultimate loser, as always happens.
Now start abusing me.... Thanks in advance.
What the Hell ?? Is this Another Season of Prison Break ? What lousy kind Security they had for the prison holding most dangerous criminals ...A chokidar sleeping and 3 policemen who were wounded trying to survive being crushed by running inmates from the front gate ???
This is just pathetic ...
This is very worrying. How can 150 heavily armed men move around in a country.Where were the law enforcement personnel.?. This is very serious.Is the country heading for a anarchy?
Its all pre planned and everyone is involved.
What a shame? Why should we not believe that almost everything including the nuclear facilities are susceptible to similar militant operations?
The whole drill of arresting terrorists and militants by the law enforcing agencies has come to square one due to inadequate security at the Bannu Jail which led to make the escape easy for 384 prisoners.
The authorities should review and investigate the whole scenario and make necessary arrangements to me fool proof arrangements not at Bannu Jail but all the jails in the country, so that a similar incident should not occur again any where in the country, besides arresting the escaped prisoners.
So this is why they were moved from Kohat jail to Bannu.
It would appear that these militant don't know this is the "sovereign territory" of Pakistan.
Isnt this a repetition of what happened last year? Firstly, in last 12 years, not a single person is tried in court or punished. Shamefully, people like Hafiz Syeed and Quadri are moving freely in the society creating trouble and spoiling the name of the country. Atleast we should have proper prisons to keep these guys inside, if the courts have failed to deliver justice.
Why does prison escapes happen in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Were there insiders involved in this act. Prima facie it clearly appears so. How could the authorities be so complacent. Shouldn't such high profile militants be kept in Maximum security prison with the latest state of the art monitoring systems. Also imagine for a second 400 hard core, hard bread militants cut loose in the open. What would be the law and order situation. I guess it will go from already bad situation to worse. Rgds P
Its too late now to change direction. On the day that the Titanic sank a century ago, its an ominous sign that Pakistan's ship of state is on its way down. Hit not by an iceberg but its own contradictions.
this is heart breaking.. shoot on sight order for TTP!! Dragonian laws are needed..I am shocked!! another wave of suicide blasts awaiting us?
Strategic Assets?
Now I understand, how our incompetence has forced America to use drones in our country. No need to blame outsiders, we are solely responsible for the destruction and downfall of our beautiful country.
what a shame.....