At least 216 inmates escaped from Karachi’s District Malir Jail on Monday night after earthquake tremors triggered a temporary evacuation of prisoners from their barracks, Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah confirmed early Tuesday.
Shah told reporters that the inmates took advantage of the chaotic evacuation to flee the facility.
The incident prompted an emergency response, with police, Rangers, and Frontier Corps (FC) forces deployed in and around the jail to regain control and prevent further escapes.
Sindh IG Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed in an interview that 78 escapees have been recaptured, and a massive search operation is currently in progress to locate the remaining fugitives.
The entire jail compound has since been secured, with Rangers taking over external security and police reinforced inside.
Authorities have completed a full internal search of the prison, and officials confirmed that the situation is now under control.
A jailbreak occurred at Malir Jail early Tuesday morning, when inmates broke through the prison wall and attempted to flee, prompting a swift and heavy response from law enforcement agencies.
For more, https://t.co/jYG65zRQJ6#etribune pic.twitter.com/a9qYssodRq
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) June 3, 2025
Jail staff are currently verifying inmate counts and categorizing escapees.
Read: Light earthquake jolts Karachi; no damage reported
According to DIG Prisons Hassan Sahito, around 6,000 prisoners were present in the facility when the tremors hit.
“Panic quickly spread among inmates. Some began breaking locks and attempting to flee from multiple points,” he told private news channels.
Sahito also mentioned that several of those who escaped were habitual drug offenders.
Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, speaking to media outside the prison in a televised briefing, confirmed the jailbreak and said an official count of escapees is ongoing.
“It is yet to be determined whether the breakout occurred due to a wall breach or simply the locks being broken,” he said, adding that a full investigation is underway to identify the causes and those responsible.
Rescue teams reported that three FC personnel sustained serious injuries in the stampede that followed the chaos, while several others were hurt and treated at a private hospital.
Wide-scale manhunt launched
In response to the escape, both lanes of the National Highway near the jail were closed, and a wide-scale manhunt was launched in neighboring areas such as Gaddafi Town, Shah Latif Town, and Bhains Colony.
With rangers, Special Security Unit (SSU), Special Response Force (SRF), and local police all participating in the operation, authorities have since secured the jail compound, and officials confirmed that the situation inside is now under control.
A complete headcount and verification process is ongoing to identify all who escaped.
Investigators continue to assess whether recent earthquakes directly contributed to the jailbreak.
With concerns raised over the facility’s structural integrity following the tremors, jail authorities are assessing the site for further risks.
Earthquake Tremors
Karachi experienced 9 to 11 tremors over the last 48 hours, with the strongest registering 3.6 magnitude. The most recent quake was recorded at 11:16 PM, shortly before the incident.
News sources have linked the jailbreak to structural vulnerabilities caused by seismic activity.
Experts linked the tremors to underground tectonic movements and the release of seismic energy.
The epicenters of the quakes were concentrated in Malir, Quaidabad, and DHA.
Fearing further quakes, many residents of Malir and surrounding areas set up tents in open spaces and avoided sleeping indoors.
Women in affected neighborhoods spent much of Monday engaged in Quranic recitation for spiritual protection.
Read: Inmates escape from Karachi’s Malir jail after breaking wall
Previously, authorities confirmed 20 of the escaped inmates were recaptured, while efforts to locate and detain the others continued.
The area surrounding the prison has been cordoned off as part of an intensified manhunt.
According to initial reports, gunfire erupted in the vicinity of the jail following the escape attempt.
Police forces, aided by other law enforcement units, quickly mobilised and launched a large-scale search operation to apprehend the fugitives.
Police have urged citizens to avoid the area and report any suspicious activity immediately.
A formal inquiry into the security breach is expected once the situation is brought under control.
