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May 10, 2026 – Pakistan –
A high-profile prisoner linked to the long-running murder case of journalist Wali Khan Babar has escaped from Malir Jail in Karachi, prompting a large-scale search operation and renewed scrutiny of prison security and administrative negligence in Sindh’s correctional system.
According to official and media reports, the escaped inmate, identified as Syed Tahir Naveed alias “Polka,” was an undertrial prisoner held in connection with multiple criminal cases, including allegations tied to the kidnapping and murder of a trader. Authorities also noted that he had previously been linked to the 2011 killing of senior journalist Wali Babar, one of Pakistan’s most widely reported cases involving violence against media personnel.
The escape was discovered during a routine prisoner headcount conducted after an internal prison event linked to commemorations of “Marka-e-Haq.” Officials reported that the inmate was found missing from his cell, triggering immediate alerts within the jail administration and law enforcement agencies.
Preliminary reports indicate that the prisoner had been arrested only days earlier in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a local trader. Investigators said that following his earlier arrest, a victim’s body was recovered based on his alleged disclosure, intensifying the seriousness of the charges he faced.
Authorities have launched an internal inquiry into how the escape occurred despite heightened security measures at Malir Jail, which had previously been upgraded with surveillance systems and monitoring protocols after earlier breakout incidents. The escape has also led to the registration of negligence cases against jail officials, with allegations that procedural lapses contributed to the breach.
The incident has revived public attention on the Wali Babar murder case, a landmark case in Pakistan’s journalism history that underscored the risks faced by reporters covering crime and political violence in Karachi. Babar, a Geo News reporter, was killed in 2011, and the case saw multiple arrests, convictions, and controversies over the years.
As the search for the escaped prisoner continues, law enforcement agencies say efforts are underway to recapture him, while the jail administration faces mounting pressure to explain how a high-risk detainee managed to flee a supposedly secure facility.
Reference –
https://www.24newshd.tv/10-May-2026/suspect-journalist-wali-babar-s-murder-escape-malir-jail
