Prison staff suspended en masse after jail shooting

The inspector general of prisons has suspended 15 jail officials, including the superintendent and assistant superintendent of Khairpur Central Jail, following a deadly shooting attack on prisoners returning from court. One inmate was killed and two were injured in the incident.

According to prison officials, unidentified assailants opened fire on Tuesday in the jail's adjacent compound as prisoners were returning from a court hearing. Jail police engaged the attackers, managing to capture one suspect who sustained injuries during the exchange.

Two other gunmen escaped the scene and remain at large, with local police conducting search operations.

Prisons IG Fida Hussain Mastooi has ordered Superintendent Abdul Ghaffar Chandio to report to the Central Police Office while suspending him along with the assistant superintendent, duty officer, two head constables, and seven constables.

Police have formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by DIG Prisons Malik Aslam to investigate security lapses.

Initial investigations suggest the attack resulted from a prior feud. IG Mastooi warned that any staff found negligent would face strict disciplinary action, stressing zero tolerance for security breaches.