A powerful earthquake that struck Karachi in the early hours of Tuesday triggered panic and chaos at Malir Jail, resulting in a massive prison break involving over 200 inmates.
According to law enforcement officials, tremors jolted the high-capacity correctional facility just after midnight, sparking fears among the incarcerated.
Inmates began shouting, fearing the walls might collapse, and their fear quickly spiralled into disorder.
Amid the confusion, prisoners managed to break through cell doors and windows, with some pushing their way toward the main exit. In the mayhem, 216 inmates escaped.
Police confirmed that 80 have since been recaptured, while over 130 remain on the run. Tragically, one inmate died during the incident, and two prison officers sustained injuries.
The facility, located in Sindh province’s Malir district, is the second-largest prison in the region and is severely overcrowded, holding more than 5,000 inmates, despite a maximum capacity of 2,200.
Prison authorities described the situation as a disaster response, not a failure in security. “This was not a breach, it was a natural calamity,” said the superintendent of the prison.
Security forces responded by firing warning shots into the air, which helped subdue some of the unrest. Nonetheless, many inmates overwhelmed the front gate and used the confusion to flee.
As the manhunt intensifies, police are searching former addresses and neighbourhoods for fugitives.
Meanwhile, outside the prison gates, anxious families protested as visitation rights were suspended, sparking further frustration.
Sindh’s Minister for Prisons, Ali Hassan Zardari, has called for a full investigation into the jailbreak and promised disciplinary action against any personnel found negligent.