19 prisoners on Sunday escaped from the District Jail Rawalakot in Poonch district of Azad Kashmir, taking police officers hostage in the process.
According to police reports, the inmates, including the notorious Ghazi Shahzad, managed to overpower the police officers at gunpoint before making their escape.
SP Bagh Khuram Iqbal detailed the incident, stating that the prisoners opened fire on the police during their escape.
In the ensuing shootout, one prisoner was injured and subsequently died from his injuries. Law enforcement agencies have since established blockades in an effort to recapture the escaped prisoners.
Ghazi Shahzad, who had served in another military organization after his tenure with the Pakistan Army, has a history of involvement in various operations.
He had been in jail for a considerable period and had even contested the last general elections from the Palindri city constituency on a United Movement ticket.
Shahzad was detained near Hajira a few days after his press conference and booked under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) provisions. His escape from jail today has raised significant security concerns.
Inspector general prisons has assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine how the prisoners managed to escape.
Efforts are being intensified to recapture the fugitives and prevent any further security breaches, he added.
