Hundreds of prisoners escape after earthquake in Pakistan
The jailbreak began early Tuesday, after hundreds of prisoners were allowed to leave their cells because of the tremors, Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, the provincial law minister said.
Police said the prisoners snatched guns from prison staff and forced open the main gate after a shootout, evading paramilitary soldiers.
At least one prisoner was killed and three guards wounded, said Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon.
"I heard the firing for quite some time and then some time later prisoners made their way out running in all directions," Bukhsh, a private security guard at a residential complex opposite the jail, told Reuters.
He added that some of the prisoners entered the apartment complex before being taken away by police.
The jailbreak was one of the largest in Pakistan history, Lanjar said.
The District Malir prison, which houses 6,000 inmates, is in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, the country's biggest city.
Prisoners ran through the area throughout the night, some of them barefoot, with police giving chase, local TV footage showed.
About 80 of those who escaped had been caught, said Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister.
The jail's superintendent, Arshad Shah, told reporters that there were 28 prison guards on duty at night, and that "only a few of such a large number of prisoners escaped".
He said the prison did not have security cameras.
Officials said the inmates, many of them heroin users, had been unnerved by the earthquakes.
"There was panic here because of earthquake tremors," said Lanjar.
The provincial chief minister said it was a mistake for prison authorities to have allowed the prisoners to leave their cells.
He urged the inmates still at large to hand themselves in, or face a serious charge for breaking out.
"Petty crime charges will become a big case like terrorism," Shah said.
Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
2 days ago
- The Australian
WA prisoners caught eating guinea pigs from Perth animal shelter
Prisoners have been caught dining on guinea pigs they sourced from an animal shelter they worked at on a day release program. Authorities have now shut down the program while they investigate the incident after a prison officer found guinea pig carcasses in a fridge at Wooroloo Prison Farm, about 57km east of Perth. The West reported prisoners began slaughtering the animals when they learnt guinea pig meat was tasty, then brought the meat back to prison to cook it. Prisoners from Wooroloo Prison Farm allegedly took the animals after learning guinea pig meat was tasty. Premier Roger Cook said he was appalled by potential revelations a pet at an animal refuge was surrendered to become someone's meal in a prison. 'It sounds like disgusting behaviour,' he said. 'I'm not against eating guinea pigs, I understand in some cultures they are considered a delicacy, but it is inappropriate for prison personnel on day release to take advantage of an opportunity at an animal refuge.' The Premier said the matter was being investigated and the prison work program had been suspended. 'So that's a lost opportunity for those prisoners looking forward to a little bit of extra liberty as part of the day release program,' he said. 'Obviously, those particular prisoners will be dealt with if there's any rules or guidance that's been contravened.' Premier Roger Cook said he was appalled by revelations a pet guinea pig at an animal refuge was surrendered to become someone's meal in a prison. Picture: Claudia Baxter / Queensland Times NewsWire understands anything taken back to the prison after the work is complete without approval is considered contraband. The carcasses were allegedly found in an industrial shed area outside the prison's secure perimeter. Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said the allegations were disturbing. 'I have asked for an investigation into the actions of Section 95 prisoners and their supervision,' he said. 'It's particularly concerning given the Section 95 community work program is an integral part of the department's rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, demonstrating the valuable contributions prisoners can make to Western Australian communities.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Inmates at a West Australian prison farm caught dining on guinea pigs sourced from animal shelter
Prisoners have been caught dining on guinea pigs they sourced from an animal shelter they worked at on a day release program. Authorities have now shut down the program while they investigate the incident after a prison officer found guinea pig carcasses in a fridge at Wooroloo Prison Farm, about 57km east of Perth. The West reported prisoners began slaughtering the animals when they learnt guinea pig meat was tasty, then brought the meat back to prison to cook it. Premier Roger Cook said he was appalled by potential revelations a pet at an animal refuge was surrendered to become someone's meal in a prison. 'It sounds like disgusting behaviour,' he said. 'I'm not against eating guinea pigs, I understand in some cultures they are considered a delicacy, but it is inappropriate for prison personnel on day release to take advantage of an opportunity at an animal refuge.' The Premier said the matter was being investigated and the prison work program had been suspended. 'So that's a lost opportunity for those prisoners looking forward to a little bit of extra liberty as part of the day release program,' he said. 'Obviously, those particular prisoners will be dealt with if there's any rules or guidance that's been contravened.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Wooroloo prisoners allegedly ate guinea pigs taken from Perth animal shelter
Allegations of prisoners eating guinea pigs from a Perth animal shelter are being investigated by the Department of Corrective Services. The prisoners alleged to have been involved were part of the Wooroloo Prison Farm's Section 95 program, which allows minimum-security prisoners to participate in supervised work programs in the community. WA's Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said an investigation was sparked after a prison staff member found guinea pig carcasses being stored in a shed outside the prison perimeter. "They didn't get them into the prison, they have an external area where we maintain tool sheds, things like that for working in the community," Mr Royce told Nine radio. Prisoners working at an animal shelter were told the animals were "quite tasty" and they began slaughtering some of the disowned pets for meat to cook at the prison, the West Australian newspaper reported. "Eating guinea pigs is a surprise, but any of my Section 95 prisoners, we don't encourage them eating offsite or give them anything," Mr Royce said. "In this case there was a deal done, obviously, that will come up in the investigation." All Section 95 programs from Wooroloo have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, Mr Royce said. "These allegations are disturbing, and I have asked for an investigation into the actions of Section 95 prisoners and their supervision," Mr Royce said in a statement. "It's particularly concerning given the Section 95 community work program is an integral part of the department's rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, demonstrating the valuable contributions prisoners can make to Western Australian communities. WA Premier Roger Cook said while he was not against eating guinea pigs, he was disgusted by the alleged behaviour of the prisoners. "I'm appalled by the revelations that, potentially, [guinea pigs were] surrendered up for someone's meal in a prison," he said. "I understand in some cultures they're considered a delicacy, but it's inappropriate for prison personnel on day release to take advantage of an opportunity at an animal refuge. "It sounds like disgusting behaviour."
