Over 200 Inmates Escape Karachi Prison Amid Earthquake Panic

Officials reported on Tuesday that over 200 prisoners in Karachi escaped after being allowed out of their cells following a series of earthquake tremors.

Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, the provincial law minister, told reporters at the scene that hundreds of inmates were let into the jail courtyard in response to the tremors.

“There was panic here because of earthquake tremors,” said Lanjar, adding that it was hard to control a throng of up to 1,000 people.

The jailbreak began just before midnight on Monday and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, Lanjar said.

Police reported that the prisoners overpowered prison staff, seized their guns, which led to a shootout, and then forced open the main gate.

A Reuters reporter at the scene on Tuesday observed shattered glass and damaged electronic equipment inside the jail.

A meeting room used for prisoners to meet their families had been ransacked, while anxious relatives gathered outside the prison.

Lanjar described the incident as one of the largest jailbreaks ever recorded in Pakistan.

The prison, located in the Malir district of Karachi—Pakistan’s largest city—is situated in a poor residential and industrial area.

Local footage showed prisoners running through the neighborhood throughout the night, some barefoot, as police pursued them.

The police managed to round up several escapees into police vans, according to the footage.

Provincial police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon stated that most of the inmates were involved in minor crimes such as drug addiction.

Memon also reported that at least one prisoner was killed during the shootout, and three prison staff were wounded.

Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister, said about 80 prisoners had been recaptured so far and criticized the prison authorities for allowing the inmates out of their cells.

He warned those still on the run to surrender or face serious charges for the jailbreak.