- Over 200 Inmates Escape Pakistani Jail In Earthquake Panic
- One inmate died, 87 were re-arrested, others still on the run.
- Prison chief sacked, government appeals to fugitives to surrender.
More than 200 inmates escaped from a prison in the Malir district of Karachi, Pakistan, in the early hours of Tuesday, following panic triggered by multiple earthquake tremors.
The jailbreak, which occurred around 1:30am local time, left one inmate dead and at least 12 others injured, including security personnel.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Natasha Speaks On Her Relationship With Tinubu’s Govt
- Chelsea Sign Portuguese Midfielder Dario Essugo in €22.3m Deal
- Mother of Six Resists Leaving Home After Divorce Ruling
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh State’s Information Minister, 216 prisoners managed to flee, but 87 have since been re-arrested. The remaining escapees are still at large, prompting an urgent manhunt by law enforcement agencies. Most of the fugitives are said to be minor offenders, including drug-related and theft convicts.
In response to the incident, the head of the provincial prison service was immediately removed from office. Memon confirmed that the decision was taken due to lapses in prison management and security protocols during the emergency.
Images from the scene showed broken prison latches, shattered glass windows, and damaged infrastructure, revealing the chaos that followed the seismic activity. “There was panic among the prisoners because of the earthquake,” Memon explained, linking the tremors directly to the breakout.
Karachi, a densely populated coastal city, has experienced over 20 earthquake tremors in the past three days, according to Amir Hyder Laghari, Acting Head of the Sindh Meteorology Office. These tremors, though mostly mild, created enough fear to unsettle the inmates and expose the vulnerabilities of Pakistan’s prison system.
Human rights groups have long criticized Pakistani prisons for their poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and systemic corruption. Tuesday’s escape has further drawn attention to the urgent need for reform in the country’s correctional facilities.
Meanwhile, authorities are urging the escaped prisoners to voluntarily return, warning of intensified operations to recapture those who remain on the run.
