A dramatic jailbreak unfolded late Monday night in Karachi, Pakistan, following a series of earthquakes that triggered chaos and fear among inmates at Malir prison.
Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, the provincial law minister, confirmed the incident to reporters outside the facility, stating that the tremors caused widespread panic within the jail, creating an opportunity for prisoners to escape.
“This is one of the largest prison breaks ever witnessed in Pakistan,” Lanjar remarked, in a statement broadcast live on local television stations on Tuesday. He added that while 46 of the escapees had since been recaptured, the exact number of those who fled remains unclear.
Authorities are continuing search operations in and around Karachi to locate the remaining escapees. The jailbreak marks a significant security lapse and has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into how such a large-scale escape occurred under the cover of natural calamity.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
