Over 200 Inmates Escape Karachi’s Malir Jail Amid Earthquake Chaos; 80 Recaptured, Search Underway
Karachi:In an unprecedented incident, **over 200 inmates escaped from Karachi’s Malir Jail** late Monday night amid widespread panic triggered by earthquake tremors felt across the city. Authorities have since **recaptured at least 80 of them**, while the hunt for the remaining fugitives continues.
The chaos unfolded around **12:53 AM**, when a **3.4 magnitude earthquake** struck Karachi — the **11th tremor** since Sunday. As a safety measure, **Malir Jail officials moved prisoners out of their barracks**, but a commotion erupted soon after.
According to **jail authorities**, during the panic, inmates **clashed with prison guards, snatched weapons**, and opened fire. The **main gate** of the jail was broken during the disturbance, allowing **216 inmates to flee**, as confirmed by **Superintendent Jail Arshad Shah**.
Speaking to the media, **DIG Karachi Prisons Muhammad Hasan Sehto** said that some inmates even **attacked prison staff** and broke internal gates during the confusion. “A proper count is underway to determine the exact number of escapees,” he stated.
### **Casualties Reported**
The violence led to the **death of one inmate**, while **three prisoners, three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, and two prison police officers** sustained injuries. All were transferred to **Jinnah Hospital** for treatment.
### **Recapture Efforts**
Police have managed to **rearrest over 80 inmates** from areas including **Qazzafi Town, Shah Latif, and Bhains Colony**. Search operations are ongoing with the support of **police, Rangers, and FC personnel**, who have now **regained full control of the jail**.
### **Initial Confusion Over Jail Wall Breach**
Earlier reports claimed that the jail’s walls had cracked due to the earthquake, but **Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar** later clarified that the **prison wall did not collapse**. “The inmates escaped through the main gate after gathering in large numbers — between 700 and 1,000 — and breaking it open,” he said in an interview with **Geo News**.
He added that the **incident may have involved negligence**, and a detailed inquiry is underway. He confirmed that **6,000 inmates** are currently housed in Malir Jail, which has a **capacity of 2,400**.
### **Ministerial Response**
**Sindh Prisons Minister Ali Hassan Zardari** has taken notice of the escape, ordering an immediate **report from the IG Prisons and DIG Prisons**. He instructed law enforcement to **cordon off the surrounding area** and ensure that **all escapees are recaptured**.
Zardari emphasized that officers found negligent in their duties will be held accountable.
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