Karachi: Over 200 prisoners escaped from Karachi’s Malir District Jail during an emergency evacuation in the early hours of Tuesday following a series of mild earthquake in the region.
According to the Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah, amid the chaos 216 inmates managed to escape. Out of which 80 have been recaptured and search efforts are ongoing for the remaining, he added.
Over 600 prisoners were taken out of their barracks during the earthquake tremors as a routine safety measure which led to chaos as the inmates started attacking the guards and seizing their weapons. Many of them managed to flee the premises after an opening fire, explained by Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Sindh home minister.
The Minister clarified that the inmates escaped through the main gate and not the prison wall as reported initially. He then added that an enquiry committee will be formed for further investigation into the matter.
According to media reports, three personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC) and one jail guard also sustained serious injuries during the incident.
