10 more inmates return to Malir prison after jailbreak

• Prisoners return during three days of Eid ul Adha.
• Some prisoners arrested, some returned voluntarily
• Jail break takes place during earthquake in Malir.

KARACHI: Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that at least 10 more prisoners — who had escaped during a jailbreak triggered by an earthquake in the port city — have returned to Landhi Jail in Malir district over the three days of Eid ul Adha.

At least 213 inmates escaped from Karachi’s District Malir Jail during an earthquake-related evacuation. The incident reportedly occurred when tremors prompted prison staff to move inmates into the open courtyard for safety. However, during the commotion, the situation spiralled out of control, enabling hundreds to break free.

According to Jail Superintendent Shahab Siddiqui, some prisoners were arrested, while some returned voluntarily. 

The inmates' return brings the total number of recaptured escapees to 149, while 66 are still on the run, the official revealed.

Last week, prisoners from the two circles of Malir Jail, who were brought out due to the continuous tremors, attacked security personnel. Frontier Corps personnel initially tried to stop the inmates with batons before resorting to aerial firing, but were overpowered, leading to the prisoners' escape.

At least three FC personnel and one jail staffer were injured during the chaos, and one prisoner was killed. In the aftermath, the facility's IT room’s servers and equipment were damaged, and its doors were damaged.

A joint operation involving police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, the Special Security Unit (SSU), and the Rapid Response Force (RRF) was launched to track the escapees, and nearly 100 inmates were immediately rearrested. 

Taking notice of the matter, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had removed the prisons inspector general (IG), prisons deputy IG and the then jail superintendent from their posts for the negligence that resulted in the "biggest" jailbreaks in years. 

He had also directed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to conduct a thorough investigation of the jailbreak incident by engaging Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi and Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho.