Over 200 prisoners escaped from Karachi’s Malir District Prison late Monday night, Sindh police confirmed. While 78 have been recaptured, 134 remain at large. One prisoner was shot dead during the recapture operation.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) Ghulam Nabi Memon stated that the escape occurred after the prisoners were brought out of their cells for a routine count following a series of minor earthquakes in the area. The IG noted that many of the inmates were drug addicts, and their collective behaviour contributed to the escape. He said that Frontier Corps (FC) personnel fired approximately 700 shots in an attempt to stop the escape.

Police launched an immediate operation to recapture the escaped prisoners. In addition to the 78 recaptured, one prisoner was killed, and three others sustained gunshot wounds during the operation. Two police officers also received minor injuries. A medical doctor at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre confirmed the death of one prisoner and the treatment of the injured.

The Sindh IG stated that teams are being formed to apprehend the remaining fugitives.  He added that one escaped prisoner was returned to the jail by his mother. The Sindh government has announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak and assign responsibility.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah called the incident alarming and stated that action would be taken against those responsible for allowing the prisoners to gather outside their cells. He noted that while minor tremors are common, prisoners are usually not allowed outside their cells after 6pm. The Chief Minister stated that most of the escaped prisoners were involved in minor crimes and that there were no reports of major terrorists or foreigners among them. He urged the remaining escapees to surrender.