In a dramatic overnight jailbreak, more than 200 inmates escaped from a prison in Karachi, Pakistan, after a series of earthquake tremors caused widespread panic. The chaos unfolded late Monday night at the District Malir Jail, one of the largest prisons in the country, housing over 6,000 inmates.
According to Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, Sindh’s provincial law minister, the prison staff allowed inmates out into the courtyard following the tremors to ensure their safety. However, this precautionary move quickly spiraled out of control.
Seizing the opportunity, a group of prisoners overpowered the guards, snatched their firearms, and initiated a shootout. They managed to force open the jail’s main gate and fled under the cover of night, eluding even the paramilitary forces stationed nearby. At least one inmate was killed during the clash, and three prison guards were injured, said Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon.
Eyewitnesses, including a private security guard named Bukhsh who lives opposite the jail, reported hearing prolonged gunfire before seeing prisoners run in all directions. Some even entered nearby apartment buildings before being recaptured by police.
A Reuters reporter who visited the prison the following morning described scenes of chaos and destruction. Broken glass littered the premises, electronic systems were damaged, and visiting rooms were left in shambles. Distressed families gathered outside, awaiting news of their loved ones.
“This is one of the biggest jailbreaks Pakistan has ever seen,” Lanjar noted, highlighting the magnitude of the incident.
Footage aired by local TV stations showed police chasing inmates throughout the Malir district overnight. Many prisoners were seen running barefoot, scattering through the city’s outskirts. As of Tuesday afternoon, roughly 80 of the escapees had been apprehended, confirmed Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister.
The prison superintendent, Arshad Shah, revealed that only 28 guards were on duty at the time of the incident and admitted that the facility lacked CCTV surveillance—raising serious concerns about security lapses.
Authorities believe the earthquakes, which rattled parts of Karachi earlier that night, triggered panic among the inmates, many of whom are reportedly heroin addicts or suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The sudden fear led to the hasty decision to move them into the courtyard—a move that ultimately backfired.
Chief Minister Shah condemned the decision to release inmates from their cells, calling it a grave error in judgment. He also issued a stern warning to the remaining fugitives: “If you don’t turn yourselves in, your minor charges will turn into major crimes—like terrorism.”
Authorities have launched a full-scale manhunt across the region, and additional security forces have been deployed to recapture the remaining escapees.
This incident adds to Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with prison overcrowding and outdated infrastructure—highlighting an urgent need for prison reform and better emergency protocols.
