Chaos in Karachi: Earthquakes trigger midnight jail break; ’46 captured’, no count of those on the run

Dozens of prisoners escaped from a jail in the Pakistan city of Karachi late on Monday night, a provincial law minister said. The jail break occurred after several earthquakes caused panic among the prisoners, minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar told reporters outside Malir prison. His comments were carried live on local TV news channels on Tuesday. Lanjar said 46 of the escapees had been captured but he did not say how many prisoners had escaped. The prison break was one of the largest ever in Pakistan, he said. Some videos of the escape have gone viral on social media showing prison inmates running away.

Prison break in Karachi Pakistan, Inmates have fleed from Jail. Due to the earthquake, the prisoners of Malir Bacha Jail in Karachi were gathered on the ground, multiple prisoners took advantage of the opportunity and escaped.#Pakistan #PakistanArmy #jailbreak #prisonescape pic.twitter.com/DENb4zngZV

— Defence News Of INDIA (@DefenceNewsOfIN) June 3, 2025

In one of the videos, an official says the police have cordoned off the area. On being asked how many prisoners had escaped, he simply says, “Jo nikal gaye, woh nikal gaye… Abhi counting karenge toh pata chalega kitne nikle hain…"

Prison break in Karachi Pakistan#KarachiPolice #karachiquake #Pakistan #PakistanArmy #jailbreak #prisonescape pic.twitter.com/SFWaaKKOyX

— Defence News Of INDIA (@DefenceNewsOfIN) June 3, 2025

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