KARACHI, Pakistan — A massive manhunt is underway in Pakistan after over 200 inmates escaped from a prison in Karachi when a series of mild earthquakes struck the city and triggered widespread panic among prisoners and guards alike, local officials confirmed Tuesday.
The jailbreak occurred at Malir prison on Monday night after tremors forced prison staff to begin moving inmates for safety reasons. During the emergency transfer, dozens of prisoners seized the opportunity to flee, according to Sindh Province Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar.
“More than 600 inmates were being shifted to another block when, amid the confusion, over 200 attempted to escape,” Lanjar said at a press briefing in Karachi.
So far, 80 escapees have been rearrested, jail superintendent Arshad Shah reported. “Efforts are underway to recapture the remaining 136 prisoners,” he added, noting that search operations had been launched across the city and surrounding areas.
In the ensuing turmoil Monday night, one inmate was killed and at least 22 people — including both police officers and prison staff — were injured, Lanjar confirmed.
Authorities said most of the escaped inmates were facing charges related to narcotics and other non-violent crimes. “We have complete records of all those who escaped and we are confident they will be apprehended,” said Sindh police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon.
Memon also announced that an internal inquiry had been launched to determine how the escape was possible and whether negligence played a role in the breakdown of prison security.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon appealed to the escapees to return voluntarily, offering leniency to those who surrender within 24 hours. “Those who come back on their own will be treated fairly. But after the deadline, strict legal action will be taken against anyone still at large,” he warned.
The escape followed a series of shallow earthquakes in Karachi on Monday, the strongest of which reached a magnitude of 3.4, according to the Pakistan National Seismic Monitoring Center. Though no major structural damage was reported across the city, the tremors caused significant fear and disruption.
While jailbreaks in Pakistan are uncommon, the incident has revived concerns about the readiness of the country’s correctional facilities to handle emergencies. Security at prisons nationwide has been significantly strengthened since a 2013 Taliban-led attack freed over 200 inmates from a prison in another province.
This latest escape is one of the most serious in recent years and has prompted renewed scrutiny of prison protocols, particularly in disaster scenarios.
