By Atoyebi Nike
More than 200 inmates escaped from a prison in Karachi after a series of earthquake tremors caused panic late Monday night. Officials say the jailbreak is one of the largest in Pakistan’s history.
Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, Sindh’s provincial law minister, said prisoners were allowed into the courtyard after tremors were felt inside the facility. “There was panic here because of the earthquake tremors,” Lanjar told reporters. “It became difficult to control a crowd of up to 1,000 people.”
The escape began just before midnight and continued into the early hours of Tuesday. Police say some inmates overpowered guards and seized weapons. A shootout followed, and the prisoners forced their way through the main gate.
A Reuters journalist who visited the jail saw shattered glass, broken furniture, and damaged electronics. A meeting room used for family visits had been ransacked. Outside the prison, distressed relatives gathered, seeking news of their loved ones.
Footage from the area showed inmates running barefoot through the streets of Malir, a densely populated district in Karachi. Police chased them on foot and rounded some up into vans.
Provincial police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed that most of the escapees were low-level offenders, many facing charges for drug use. He said at least one inmate was killed during the gunfire, and three prison officers were injured.
By Tuesday morning, officials said about 80 of the escaped inmates had been recaptured.
Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, said it was a mistake to let inmates out of their cells during the tremors. He urged those still on the run to return voluntarily or face more serious charges.
Authorities are now investigating the incident and reviewing security protocols across other prisons in the province.
Photo Credit AP
