KARACHI: Authorities confirmed Tuesday that 10 additional escapees have returned to Karachi’s District Malir Jail during the three-day Eid ul Adha holidays, following the mass jailbreak triggered by an earthquake last week.
The total number of recaptured or returned prisoners now stands at 149, while 66 inmates remain at large, according to Jail Superintendent Shahab Siddiqui. A total of 213 prisoners had escaped after a chaotic evacuation during seismic tremors.
The incident occurred when jail officials moved inmates to the courtyard for safety following the quake. Amid the disorder, some prisoners overpowered security personnel, leading to the largest jailbreak in recent years in the province.
According to jail officials, some of the returnees came back voluntarily, while others were apprehended during joint search operations conducted by Sindh Police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, the Special Security Unit (SSU), and the Rapid Response Force (RRF). Nearly 100 inmates were captured immediately after the escape.
During the turmoil, inmates from two prison circles attacked the guards, injuring three Frontier Corps personnel and one jail officer. One inmate lost his life in the unrest. Damage was also reported to the prison’s IT servers, equipment, and infrastructure.
Following the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah removed the Inspector General of Prisons, the Deputy IG, and the Jail Superintendent for gross negligence. He also instructed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to initiate a detailed inquiry, involving Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi and Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho.
The incident has sparked serious concerns about security protocols and crisis preparedness at the prison facility, especially during natural disasters.
