By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Authorities launched a massive manhunt across Karachi on Tuesday to recapture 213 inmates who escaped from Malir Jail during an earthquake-related evacuation, an incident that left one prisoner dead and several security personnel injured.
The jailbreak, described as one of the most serious in recent years, has triggered a sweeping response from provincial government, including the ouster of top prison officials.
The chaos erupted early Tuesday when inmates from Circles No. 4 and 5 were removed from their barracks as a safety measure amid tremors rattling the part of Karachi. “More than 600 prisoners were outside their cells at the time. Amid the chaos, 213 managed to flee,” Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah told reporters.
As of Tuesday evening, 89 escapees had been recaptured, but 127 remained at large, prompting a joint operation involving police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, the Special Security Unit, and the Rapid Response Force.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah removed the inspector general of prisons and suspended both the deputy inspector general of prisons and the jail’s superintendent.
Shah called incident “completely unacceptable,” as it exposed “gross negligence and inefficiency on the part of the prison administration.” “Those responsible will be held accountable,” Shah said and ordered the provincial home secretary to conduct a comprehensive security audit of Malir Jail and all other provincial prisons.
Details of the breakout painted a picture of pandemonium. Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar said between 700 and 1,000 prisoners had gathered near the main gate after the evacuation, where nearly 100 forced it open and fled.
“This is one of the most serious jailbreaks in recent years,” he said, dismissing early reports of structural collapse. “The escape occurred through the main gate and not due to any wall collapse.”
Lanjar announced the formation of an inquiry committee, promising “strict disciplinary action against those found responsible.”
The jail, which housed roughly 6,022 inmates, mostly drug-related offenders, saw its security unravel as prisoners attacked personnel during the tremors. Frontier Corps members initially used batons to control the crowd before resorting to aerial firing, but they were overpowered, according to Inspector General Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon. Three Frontier Corps personnel and one jail staffer were injured, and one prisoner was killed, though authorities have not released the deceased’s identity or case details.
Sindh Prisons IG Qazi Nazir said the earthquake in Karachi caused damage to the barrack walls of Malir Jail, following which inmates launched an attack that broke the main gate latch. “Every effort was made to control the mob, but the situation escalated beyond expectations, something the prison system had never encountered before,” he said. Inside, the IT room’s servers and equipment were damaged, prisoner data was jeopardized, and bullet marks scarred the walls.
Nazir urged families to return fugitives voluntarily. “If inmates do not come back, strict action will be taken,” he said, noting that addresses of the escapees were known and an inquiry would probe the negligence behind the breach. “Natural disasters can trigger such events anywhere.”
Amid the turmoil, a rare human story emerged. The mother of one escapee brought her son back to custody, a decision that captured local attention. “He told me many inmates fled due to the tremors, so he also ran home,” she said, recounting how she walked him back to jail on foot. Meanwhile, police rearrested another fugitive in New Karachi, a man facing charges of illegal weapons possession and drug trafficking.
Inspector General Memon, who inspected the jail, said Malir houses a large number of inmates involved in drug-related cases, many with psychological issues, making them comparatively easier to track and recapture. He ruled out any premeditated plot and commended the swift response by police and Rangers, who have since regained control of the facility.
Outside, families flocked to Malir Jail seeking news, prompting police to release a list of the fugitives. Security was tightened around Shah Latif Town, Quaidabad, and nearby slums, though personnel shortages limited the setup of major checkpoints.
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