More than 200 inmates escaped from Malir District Jail in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, late Monday night following a panic caused by a series of earthquake tremors.
The incident, described as one of the largest jailbreaks in Pakistan’s history, occurred after prison authorities allowed inmates to move into the courtyard due to safety concerns from the tremors.
According to Sindh Law Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, the jailbreak began just before midnight and lasted into the early hours of Tuesday.
During the confusion, prisoners overpowered guards, seized weapons, and broke through the prison`s main gate after a brief shootout with prison staff.
Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed that one prisoner was killed and three guards were injured during the incident.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos, with prisoners fleeing barefoot in all directions. Some reportedly entered nearby residential areas before being recaptured.
Police forces launched an immediate manhunt, successfully apprehending around 80 escapees by Tuesday morning, according to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The prison houses approximately 6,000 inmates but lacked surveillance cameras, as admitted by jail superintendent Arshad Shah.
He noted that only 28 guards were on duty at the time. Despite the large-scale escape, Shah claimed that only a small portion of inmates managed to flee.
Officials stated that many of the inmates were drug users, already distressed by the tremors, which intensified the panic.
Chief Minister Shah criticized the decision to allow prisoners out of their cells and urged escapees to surrender, warning of severe legal consequences.
The incident has raised serious concerns about prison security and emergency preparedness in the region.
