SRINAGAR: In one of the largest jailbreaks in Pakistan’s recent history, more than 200 inmates escaped from Malir District Jail in Karachi late Monday night after a series of mild earthquakes caused widespread panic among prisoners and staff. Authorities confirmed that at least one prisoner was killed and three security personnel were injured during a violent shootout that erupted as the prisoners overpowered guards, reports appearing in the global media suggest.
The jailbreak occurred after a series of tremors — reportedly 9 to 11 low-intensity quakes over a span of 48 hours — struck the southern port city, prompting prison authorities to temporarily evacuate inmates from their cells late Monday night. Jail officials said the decision to move prisoners into open courtyards was taken out of concern for structural safety, fearing a potential wall collapse.
However, the situation quickly spiralled out of control. According to Sindh Law Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, hundreds of inmates used the confusion to stage a coordinated breakout. Around 1,000 prisoners had gathered near the Mari Gate section of the jail when a group reportedly began breaking locks and climbing over walls. One prisoner snatched a rifle from a prison officer and opened fire, injuring a Frontier Corps member and a police officer. Other jail staff were attacked with sticks and stones.
Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed the death of one inmate in the shootout and said paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps personnel were called in to contain the unrest. Footage broadcast on local television showed inmates running barefoot into neighbouring residential areas as police launched pursuit operations.
By Tuesday afternoon, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said 78 of the 216 escaped inmates had been recaptured. “We urge those still at large to surrender themselves, or face serious legal consequences for escape,” he added, calling it a “serious administrative failure.”
Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah admitted the prison was understaffed at the time of the incident, with only 28 guards on duty for a population of over 6,000 inmates. He also revealed that the prison lacked security cameras, raising concerns about monitoring and preparedness.
Residents living near the jail said several escapees briefly entered a nearby apartment complex before being apprehended. Announcements were made via mosque loudspeakers urging citizens to report any suspicious individuals.
Authorities have launched a large-scale manhunt for the remaining escapees and a probe into the security lapses that allowed the breakout. While officials said no known militants were among the fugitives, the jailbreak has sparked alarm and raised fresh concerns over prison security and crisis preparedness in Pakistan’s largest city.
