A devastating earthquake sparked panic among inmates at a prison in Karachi, Pakistan, leading to one of the largest jailbreaks in the country’s history. In the massive Prison break, over 200 prisoners escaped from the Malir prison after being temporarily removed from their cells due to mild earthquake tremors.
According to Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Home Minister for Sindh province, “The jailbreak happened while prisoners were removed from their cells for safety during the tremors. Once outside their cells, a group of inmates attacked guards, seized their weapons and opened fire.”
The prison break resulted in 216 inmates fleeing, with 78 recaptured as of Tuesday, according to Kashif Abbasi, a senior police official. Abbasi emphasized that none of the escaped prisoners were convicted fighters. Authorities have launched raids to apprehend those still at large, with at least 130 inmates remaining unaccounted for.
The incident has raised concerns about prison security in Pakistan, which has stepped up measures since a 2013 attack on a prison by the Pakistani Taliban freed hundreds of inmates. One prisoner was killed, and three security officials were wounded in a shootout during a bid to recapture one of the escapees. Lanjar described the prison break as “one of the largest ever in Pakistan”.
The Malir prison, which houses 6,000 inmates, witnessed significant damage, with shattered glass and damaged electronic equipment reported. Anxious family members gathered outside the jail, while police and paramilitary soldiers stood guard. Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon stated that most of the escaped prisoners were involved in minor crimes, such as drug addiction.
The massive prison break in Karachi’s Malir prison has sparked a large-scale manhunt, with authorities recapturing nearly 80 inmates who escaped amid earthquake tremors. According to Sindh Prisons IG Qazi Nazir, the earthquake caused damage to the barrack walls, allowing inmates to launch an attack that broke the main gate latch.
The situation escalated beyond expectations, with prisoners breaking several other locks and overpowering security forces. Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar described the incident as one of the most serious jailbreaks in recent years, assuring that every effort was being made to recapture the remaining escapees.