In a dramatic jailbreak in Pakistan’s Karachi on Monday night, more than 200 inmates escaped from a prison after mild earthquake tremors prompted authorities to evacuate prisoners from their cells. Officials confirmed Tuesday that the incident, which unfolded before dawn, led to a deadly shootout that left one inmate dead and three security personnel injured.
According to Ziaul Hassan, the home minister of Sindh province, the incident began when authorities evacuated prisoners from their cells as a precaution following a series of light earthquakes. While the inmates were temporarily held outside their cells, a group of them suddenly turned on the guards.
“The jailbreak occurred after prisoners were evacuated from their cells for safety during the earthquake,” Hassan said. “The inmates were still outside of the cells when a group suddenly attacked guards, seized their weapons, opened fire and fled.”
Over 200 Flee, Dozens Recaptured
Senior police official Kashif Abbasi reported that 216 inmates fled the facility, which is located in the capital of Sindh province. By Tuesday morning, 78 of them had been recaptured.
“One prisoner was killed and three security officials were wounded in the ensuing shootout, but the situation has been brought under control,” Abbasi confirmed. He added that police were conducting widespread raids to locate and arrest the remaining escapees.
Abbasi clarified that none of the escapees were individuals convicted or on trial for terrorism or militant activity.
While occasional escapes have occurred during prisoner transfers to court, full-scale prison breaks are rare in Pakistan. This incident marks one of the most significant jailbreaks in years, reminiscent of the 2013 attack by the Pakistani Taliban that freed over 200 inmates from a prison in Dera Ismail Khan.
In the wake of the recent jailbreak, authorities are expected to face serious questions about prison security, emergency protocols, and preparedness for natural disasters.
Meanwhile, Karachi has experienced several mild and shallow tremors over the past 24 hours, with magnitudes ranging from 2.6 to 3.4, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre.
