Taking advantage of the chaos triggered by an earthquake, at least 216 inmates managed to escape from Karachi’s Malir Jail around midnight on Monday, as security personnel fired warning shots in a failed attempt to control the situation.
Following the incident, a massive search operation was launched by district police, jail authorities, and Rangers, resulting in the recapture of 90 escapees so far, while the rest remain on the run.
Authorities reported that the jailbreak occurred after prisoners were moved out of their barracks due to earthquake-related safety concerns.
As more than 1,000 inmates gathered near the Mari Gate, a stampede broke out, allowing many to break the gate locks and flee over the walls.
Amid the commotion, one prisoner snatched a Kalashnikov rifle from a police officer and began firing, injuring two Frontier Corps personnel and a police official.
Other inmates joined the chaos, using stones and sticks to injure staff before escaping.
The gunfire and mayhem led to panic in the surrounding area, forcing authorities to block roads near the jail, including the National Highway, which caused major traffic jams between Malir Kala Board and Quaidabad.
Senior police and prison officials, including the IG and DIG of prisons, reached the scene shortly after, joined by a large deployment of police and Rangers.
Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar also took notice and ordered the immediate arrest of those who fled, instructing officers to boost surveillance and conduct door-to-door searches.
Locals shared videos of the escape online, capturing images of shirtless and barefoot prisoners fleeing on foot and in rickshaws.
In response, authorities made announcements via mosque loudspeakers and checked IDs of people in the area to identify suspects.
In one case, a woman brought her son and his friend back to jail after they returned home following the escape.
She explained that her son, a drug addict, arrived at 3:30 AM, and she gave him food before handing him over, expressing hope for his recovery.
IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon visited the jail on Tuesday and was briefed on the unfolding situation.
Many of the escaped inmates were held on drug charges, and several reportedly had mental health conditions.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah responded swiftly by removing the Inspector General of Prisons and suspending both the DIG Prisons and the Malir Jail Superintendent, calling the jailbreak “completely unacceptable” and blaming it on negligence.
Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that escaped inmates who return voluntarily within 24 hours will not face strict action, but those who do not come back will be charged under jailbreak laws, which can result in up to seven years in prison.