HYDERABAD, Aug 15: The Sindh High Court has directed the district and sessions’ judge of Hyderabad to conduct an inquiry into July 13 riots in the central prison to determine who ordered opening straight fire at prisoners, which resulted in death of an inmate and injuries to several others.

A source in the sessions’ court told Dawn the court received the order on Wednesday, which was passed on a petition which also discussed the inquiry report of Additional District and Sessions Judge of Hyderabad Aijaz Khaskheli on the jail incident.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, in-charge of jail affairs, ordered that an impartial inquiry was needed by the district and sessions judge.

The judge would record statements of the injured prisoners and witnesses, find out at whose behest fire was opened and why real bullets were used instead of rubber bullets, he said.

He would also record statements of police officials who had fired straight at prisoners and submit the inquiry report within four weeks after fixing responsibility.

The court observed in its Aug 7 order that when Nazeer Ahmed, former superintendent of jail, was posted at Sukkur jail a similar incident had taken place there, in which a prisoner was shot dead and several others were injured. An identical incident has happened in Hyderabad jail after he had been posted there, said the court.

He said that before his posting to Hyderabad, the jail was being properly managed and no significant complaint was received from prisoners.

The court pointed out to the advocate-general of Sindh that last year over Rs20 million were spent on Hyderabad jail for construction of more than 10 barracks. Therefore, one could not think that a prisoner could escape from barracks or could have access to ‘Maari’ (front entrance of jail), said the court.

The court feared it would be impossible to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry into the jail incident in the presence of present superintendent.

Advocate General Abdul Fatah Malik told the court the superintendent would be replaced within shortest possible time.

Sukkur’s DIG of prisons had been appointed as inquiry officer to investigate the incident, said the court.

The court asked the provincial department of prisons why food for prisoners had been outsourced by the government at exorbitant rate and it should not be given to a welfare association which would provide better meal at low rates.

The AG and the special secretary and the IG of prisons stated that they would address the issue on next date of hearing.

The court was informed that Additional Chief Secretary (home) Waseem Ahmed had assured that mobile phone jamming device would be installed in prisons soon.

The IG of prisons informed the court that Rs150 million had been sanctioned and summary for the release of fund had been placed before chief minister for approval. The device would be installed as soon as the funds were released.

A prisoner was killed and around a dozen others and policemen were injured in riots on July 13 in the Central Prison Hyderabad. At least four prisoners and a number of policemen were injured.

The prison administration had claimed that prisoners had staged a mutiny to break the jail and they had to resort to firing to quell the rebellion.