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Friday, Jun 06, 2025
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Over 200 Inmates Escape from Karachi Jail After Earthquake
A massive prison break in Pakistan's largest city follows seismic tremors, prompting urgent searches for escapees.
More than 200 inmates escaped from Malir Jail in Karachi, Pakistan, in the early hours of Tuesday following an earthquake that struck the region.
Police reported that the seismic activity triggered panic among prisoners, leading them to break down cell doors and shatter windows.
As a result, a total of 216 inmates managed to storm the prison gates during the chaos.
The earthquake, which occurred around midnight, caused considerable fear among the inmates, prompting them to shout for help as they feared potential structural collapse.
According to reports, the prison was significantly overcrowded, housing over 5,000 inmates despite a capacity of only 2,200.
In the ensuing confusion, police reported that around 80 escapees have since been recaptured.
However, searches continue for more than 130 inmates who remain at large.
During the police operation to control the situation, one prisoner was killed, and two prison officers sustained injuries.
The provincial minister for prisons, Ali Hassan Zardari, has initiated an investigation into the escape and has indicated that any officers found at fault will face disciplinary action.
The superintendent of the prison maintained that the incident was not a security lapse but rather a consequence of the natural disaster, noting that security forces at the facility were on high alert.
Families of inmates have expressed frustration over the ongoing situation, staging protests outside the prison as visitation rights have been suspended.
Police have begun door-to-door searches in the surrounding communities to locate and apprehend the remaining escapees.
Malir Jail, located in the Sindh province, remains a focal point of concern amidst the broader implications of this security breach.
Police reported that the seismic activity triggered panic among prisoners, leading them to break down cell doors and shatter windows.
As a result, a total of 216 inmates managed to storm the prison gates during the chaos.
The earthquake, which occurred around midnight, caused considerable fear among the inmates, prompting them to shout for help as they feared potential structural collapse.
According to reports, the prison was significantly overcrowded, housing over 5,000 inmates despite a capacity of only 2,200.
In the ensuing confusion, police reported that around 80 escapees have since been recaptured.
However, searches continue for more than 130 inmates who remain at large.
During the police operation to control the situation, one prisoner was killed, and two prison officers sustained injuries.
The provincial minister for prisons, Ali Hassan Zardari, has initiated an investigation into the escape and has indicated that any officers found at fault will face disciplinary action.
The superintendent of the prison maintained that the incident was not a security lapse but rather a consequence of the natural disaster, noting that security forces at the facility were on high alert.
Families of inmates have expressed frustration over the ongoing situation, staging protests outside the prison as visitation rights have been suspended.
Police have begun door-to-door searches in the surrounding communities to locate and apprehend the remaining escapees.
Malir Jail, located in the Sindh province, remains a focal point of concern amidst the broader implications of this security breach.