close
Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Jailbreak: 200 inmates escape from Pakistani prison after earthquake panic

Police said the prisoners snatched guns from prison staff, leading to a shootout, and then forced open the main gate.

• June 3, 2025
Pakistani prison
Pakistani prison [Credit; ABC News]

Officials on Tuesday reported that more than 200 prisoners in Karachi have escaped after they were permitted to leave their cells following a series of earthquake tremors.

Zia-ul- Hasan Lanjar, the provincial law minister, told reporters at the scene that hundreds of prisoners were allowed into the jail courtyard due to the tremors.

“There was panic here because of earthquake tremors,” said Mr Lanjar, adding that it was hard to control a throng of up to 1,000 people.

The jailbreak began just before midnight on Monday and carried on till the early hours of Tuesday, he said.

Police said the prisoners snatched guns from prison staff, leading to a shootout, and then forced open the main gate.

On Tuesday, a Reuters reporter at the site saw shattered glass and damaged electronic equipment inside the jail.

A meeting room for prisoners to see their families had been ransacked.

Anxious family members gathered outside the jail on Tuesday.

Mr Lanjar said this was one of the largest jailbreaks ever in Pakistan.

The prison in the Malir district of Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, is in a poor residential and industrial neighbourhood.

Local footage also showed prisoners running through the area through the night, some barefoot, chased by police.

The police were able to round some up into police vans, the footage showed.

Provincial police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that most of the inmates had been involved in small-time crimes like drug addiction.

Mr Memon added that at least one prisoner was killed in the shooting, which also wounded three prison staff.

Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister, said that around 80 prisoners had so far been caught, adding that it was a mistake for the prison authorities to have allowed the inmates out of their cells.

He warned those still at large to hand themselves in or face a serious charge for breaking out.

(Reuters/NAN) 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Police

Heading 5

Nasarawa traditional ruler rescued after five days in kidnappers’ den

The police spokesperson said that Mr Omanji was taken to the hospital for medical attention immediately after the rescue.

Shovel

Heading 4

Man nabbed in Ebonyi for allegedly killing 60-year-old neighbour with shovel

Mr Ukandu said that the suspect allegedly committed the crime at Egugho, Ezzagu in Ishielu Local Government area of the state.

Local courtroom

States

Police arraign three for allegedly stealing goods worth N168,500

The magistrate adjourned the case until June 16, for further hearing.

Vietnam's national assembly

World

Vietnam issues directive on candidate selection for national election

Vietnam’s national election, scheduled for March 15, 2026, would elect deputies to the 16th assembly and members of People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

Armed Ugandan policemen

Africa

Bomb explosion rocks Ugandan capital, police call for calm

Police confirmed that no civilians were injured or killed in the explosion apart from the two suspected terrorists who were riding a motorcycle.