Over 200 prisoners flee Pakistani jail amid earthquake panic
Out of the 216 prisoners who broke out, approximately 87 have been recaptured, while the remainder remain at large, said Sindh province’s Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
More than 200 inmates escaped from a jail in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest coastal city, following a series of earthquake tremors on Tuesday, government officials reported.
Out of the 216 prisoners who broke out, approximately 87 have been recaptured, while the remainder remain at large, said Sindh province’s Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
During the escape around 1:30 a.m. (2030 GMT), one inmate lost his life and 12 others, including some security personnel, were injured.
"The earthquake caused panic among the prisoners," Memon explained.
Following the incident, the provincial head of the prison service was dismissed from his position, he added.
Pakistan’s prisons are widely criticized for severe overcrowding, poor living conditions, corruption, and violations of human rights.
Furthermore, lengthy judicial delays often result in extended detention periods for many inmates.
Acting head of the Sindh Meteorology Office, Amir Hyder Laghari, told AFP that Karachi has experienced over 20 tremors in the past three days.
In response, the government has urged the escaped prisoners, mostly individuals convicted of drug offenses and theft to turn themselves in.
