According to officials, the jailbreak unfolded during chaotic scenes sparked by a series of tremors shaking the city.
Many inmates, who were outside their barracks due to routine procedures, exploited the confusion to overpower jail staff, sparking a fierce confrontation.
Heavy gunfire erupted inside and around the prison, causing panic in nearby neighborhoods. Authorities temporarily shut down key routes including the National Highway as police and Rangers sealed off the area.
SSP Malir Kashif Aftab Abbasi reported a swift response by police and paramilitary forces, who secured surrounding villages and highways. Public appeals were broadcast from mosques across Malir urging citizens to assist in capturing the fugitives.
The prison was described as a battlefield, with over 600 inmates outside their cells when the tremors hit, escalating into a full-scale riot.
Jail authorities fired on prisoners in a bid to regain control, resulting in injuries to five security personnel and casualties among inmates—including one killed and three wounded. The injured were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, visiting the jail the next morning, denied any breach of the prison walls, attributing the escape to the unusually large number of inmates outside their cells—over 800 at the time. He condemned the incident as a grave security failure.
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By Tuesday morning, law enforcement had recaptured more than 80 escapees during raids around Sukhna Police Station and Kohi Goth. An intense manhunt continues, with increased surveillance at transit points and city exits. Nine suspected accomplices were also detained.
FIRs are being filed against the escapees for charges including jailbreak and attacks on law enforcement. In a surprising development, one mother even returned her escaped son to the jail voluntarily.
A preliminary inquiry has revealed serious security lapses. The Home Minister has ordered a full investigation and warned that those responsible will face the harshest consequences. Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah confirmed the prison houses around 6,000 inmates and that efforts are ongoing to determine how many remain at large.
