Islamabad, June 3, 2025: In a major security break, 216 prisoners managed to escape from Karachi’s Malir Jail late Monday night following evacuation protocols triggered by earthquake tremors, confirmed Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists, Shah stated that more than 80 of the escaped inmates have been caught, while operations continue to trace the rest.
He explained that the breakout occurred when detainees from Circles No. 4 and 5 were escorted out of their cells as a precaution. “More than 600 prisoners were outside their cells at the time. Amid the chaos, 216 managed to flee,” he said. Over 135 convicts remain missing.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar labeled the incident one of the most critical jail breaches in recent memory. He said the escape took place when around 700 to 1,000 inmates were near the prison’s main gate after the evacuation. Nearly 100 of them reportedly forced open the gate and ran.
“About 46 have been caught, and we expect the rest will be rearrested soon,” he said. He assured that the identities of all those who escaped have been verified, and their homes and nearby areas are being raided.
The chief minister has been briefed and directed immediate personal oversight of the situation, Lanjar said. He clarified that although initial reports pointed to structural harm, the jail escape was through the gate, not via a collapsed wall.
He also suggested that negligence on part of the staff could not be ruled out and mentioned that a formal inquiry involving law enforcement and other departments would be launched“About 46 have been caught, and we expect the rest will be rearrested soon,” he said.
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Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon also visited the jail and told the press that several escapees were drug offenders with mental health concerns. “They are usually easy to trace and rearrest,” he remarked, crediting security forces for their prompt action. He denied that the escape was part of a plotted scheme and promised a thorough investigation.
During the commotion, three Frontier Corps personnel and one jail official sustained injuries, while one inmate died, according to rescue sources. A coordinated operation is now in progress with support from police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, SSU, and the Rapid Response Force. The situation inside the jail has been brought under control.
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Sindh Prisons Minister Ali Hassan and IG Prisons Qazi Nazir also visited the facility. Jail authorities confirmed that 6,022 prisoners were housed in Malir Jail at the time, and cases are being filed under the law against those who escaped.
One of the recaptured convicts, Siraj, shared his account with reporters, saying, “When the quake hit, everyone started breaking the gates. Many ran off. I was arrested in a weapons case and went into hiding after escaping.”
