Hanif Abbasi shifted from Adiala jail to Attock prison after photo leak controversy
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PML-N leader Mohammad Hanif Abbasi was on Saturday morning shifted from Adiala prison in Rawalpindi to Attock jail, sources told DawnNewsTV.
Abbasi, who is serving a life sentence after his conviction in the ephedrine quota case, was shifted to the prison in Attock in the early hours of Saturday on the recommendation of a two-member inquiry committee, a source in Adiala jail said.
The committee was formed to investigate how photographs were taken of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and others in the office of the Central Jail Adiala superintendent prior to Sharif’s release on Wednesday on orders of the Islamabad High Court. Abbasi was one of the leaders seen in the photo.
Formed by Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Shahid Saleem Baig, the committee, which consists of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Multan Region Malik Shaukat and Additional Inspector General Judicial Malik Safdar, was tasked with investigating who managed to bring a camera or phone into the office of jail superintendent Saeedullah Gondal. Mobile phones and cameras are not permitted within the prison facility.
The committee will interview Gondal and other jail staffers, as well as view CCTV footage of the visitors.
Members of the committee also visited Adiala jail, and recommended that Abbasi be transferred to Attock prison, sources told DawnNewsTV.
Two photographs released on social media showed Nawaz Sharif with Shahbaz, former adviser to the prime minister on aviation Sardar Mehtab Khan, Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Raheel Munir.
Another photograph showed Abbasi sitting beside Sharif in the jail superintendent’s office. The deputy inspector general of prisons Rawalpindi region could be seen sitting in the jail superintendent’s chair and speaking to both politicians.
Search operation
Following the shifting of the PML-N leader, a search operation was started at Adiala jail during which all barracks and cells of the prison were scoured.
Nearly 200 additional personnel were called from the prisons in Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal for the search operation at Adiala, sources revealed.
ANF had registered a case against Abbasi and his accomplices in June 2012 under sections 9-C, 14 and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act for misuse of 500kg of ephedrine.
The CNS Court of Rawalpindi sentenced Abbasi to lifetime in prison in the case just before the July 25 general elections.
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Comments (77) Closed
Sep 22, 2018 11:00am
Shocking the way the jail officers behave with the rich and powerful. They grovel at the feet of people like NS, as if they have done favour by being incarcerated in their jail.
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Sep 22, 2018 11:07am
The law will continue to be mercilessly broken unless these so called powerful and corrupt politicians are taught a lesson to obey the rule of land. These Pakistani politicians are the most unruly people on the planet...
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Sep 22, 2018 11:07am
Nawaz Sharif in this picture does not look like in jail. Jail in charge must be suspended and thrown away from this job.
No doubt that there are two different systems one for rich and affluent and the other for poor seven in jails.
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Sep 22, 2018 11:12am
Central Jail Adiala superintendent should be suspended. But, will he be?
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Sep 22, 2018 11:19am
What about the jail officials ? Who will punish them ? Or are they beyond accountability ? If they are made an example then in future no one will dare to flout the rules.
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Sep 22, 2018 11:21am
What kind of system is this, instead of punishing and removing the prison officers responsible, the cruminal is shifted. CM Buzdar, was the wrong choice, who has no clue of government function. A more honest ,tough but experienced person should have been made CM to clean up the system.
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Sep 22, 2018 11:34am
A storm in tea cup. What is wrong with this meeting in the Office of Jail Supt? Is it illegal, smashing any law or violating Jail Manual? Why so much noise?
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Sep 22, 2018 11:37am
Good... good....
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Sep 22, 2018 11:39am
Will enjoy the serene atmosphere in attock jail now
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Sep 22, 2018 11:41am
The jail superintendent should be immediately fired from his job.
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Sep 22, 2018 11:57am
It is not just Abbasi but the incharge of jail should also be shifted to A|ttock jail as a convict, as Abbasi could not be where he was in the photo unless he allowed it.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:09pm
Well, this only confirms everone's suspicions. It is not a Jail, but a 5-star Hotel. where Wi-fI is available so you can use your Iphone for selfies and update your social media accounts.
What else, besides room-service, chauffer driver Mercedes on stand-bym, in case you want to go shopping, visit friends, dine at a fine restaurant or just want to go to a cafe and chill!??
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Sep 22, 2018 12:13pm
PML-N ...... shoots itself in the foot.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:16pm
Isn't the jail superintendent a relative of a top PML-N leader ? .......Should he not be sacked after this incident, after all it involves VVIP's and the optics are disastrous.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:21pm
Clam down, it’s still inside the jail.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:24pm
@RK Yes, it is illegal for convicts to meet any one in Jail SP room. Read the law & jail manual before putting up such questions.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:31pm
Very nice that Abbasi is shifted from Adiala to Attock jail.
But what about punishment to the jail superintendent, who was responsible for the gross violation of jail rules? Should all influential prisoners be shifted from Adiala to elsewhere and this jail superintendent be let off scotfree?
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Sep 22, 2018 12:34pm
Hanif Abbasi should be immediately released from prison. The case against him is just political vendetta.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:41pm
Jailer should be fired from his job immediately
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Sep 22, 2018 12:45pm
@WARRIs I think most politicians in this subcontinent have same issue.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:46pm
This jail is more comfortable than my home.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:46pm
No wonder, someone in the past related these people and their organization to a Mafia! But for how long can it last?
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Sep 22, 2018 12:49pm
These guys will run away with all the ill gotten wealth and no one can do nothing about it as usual.
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Sep 22, 2018 12:53pm
This is how law of the land works in Pakistan.Rich people can twist,turn and bend laws to suit them.Law enforcers,I am afraid have two yard sticks;one for rich and the other for poor.In this case,we see flagrant violation of rules.The people responsible must pay for this.They should not be allowed to get way with it.
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Sep 22, 2018 01:08pm
Go after how Nawaz was relaxing in jail superintendents office rather than going who took the picture.
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Sep 22, 2018 01:11pm
Petty matter. Inquiry will result in loss of money and time
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Sep 22, 2018 01:27pm
What assurance is thete in Attock jail, Hanif Abassi will be treated differently? Make sure that jail staff treat him like any other prisoner, monitor their progress through spot checks. And when Nawaz Sharif and his family ate sent back to jail then they are also sent to different secure jail, where no VIP treatment is provided to them.
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Sep 22, 2018 01:31pm
Law is not for rich and famous. Remember, imran failed to attend any of the court orders even when he was in opposition !
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Sep 22, 2018 01:35pm
It is quite amusing reading some of the comments where blame has been laid at the prisoners. They are there because the Prison Staff had allowed them to be present in Jail Superintendent's office with him chairing it. Furthermore these are political prisoners who are serving jail terms on trumped up charges. Sending some one to Attock jail reminds me of Mush regime and it's antics.
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Sep 22, 2018 01:39pm
Our police is the problem. They have slave mentality that can never be cured!
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Sep 22, 2018 01:39pm
Politically influenced Jail Superintendent must be sacked,rather than search operation and waste of Public taxes money on shifting and search operations !
This reflects how influenced are Criminals in side Jails of Pakistan.
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Sep 22, 2018 01:45pm
Interesting. Did the person who leaked the photo of Husain Nawaz ever get identified? I guess he/she was not a corrupt politician but worked for higher authorities. So
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Sep 22, 2018 01:56pm
Good move to send him Attock jail. Future is bright.
Next booking for NS MN and Capt. S and etc.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:07pm
Nothing is going to happen unless punitive action is taken against the deputy inspector general of prisons Rawalpindi region and jail superintendent.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:13pm
It appears that all was done with the consent of jail suprindentent Saeedullah Gondal, as he is responsible for this disgraceful act. Sack this incompetent man, who violated jail rules, and appoint a honest and diligent person on merits. Also, get rid of black sheep from all institutions and society, who were appointed by Nawaz Sharif and his cronies.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:27pm
I am working for a gas conpany in Machh, Balochistan. I see they have one of the oldest Jail in here.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:30pm
Wow what a beautiful prison judging by that picture. VVIP culture in it’s fullest.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:36pm
@RK Hanif Abbasi is under going prison term did he look like it ?
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Sep 22, 2018 02:38pm
@Citizen how is it petty? A man who has been sentenced to life is allowed to sit in the office of the jail authorities with his partners in crime as if they are having some kind of planning meeting... this is shocking and stern action is required against the jail authorities
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Sep 22, 2018 02:41pm
Jail rules are only for poor people, for rich politicians, VIP prisoners, jails are like a guest rooms, where all facilities are provided by the jail staff. Surely, there are double standards - get rid of black sheep appointed by previous corrupt government and appoint new honest people. This is is the only solution.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:58pm
Does this not also speak to the possibility that NS and Hanif Abbasi may have jointly conspired in the ephedrine quota case, which earned Abbasi a life sentence?
What else will explain their closeness, even in prison, where NS's release was unrelated to his crime, except for the possibility that they both knew each other's criminal activities and kept silent, aided and abated the other and were equal partners in crime??
I think there is more to NS's sources of wealth than just money laundering and offshore companies, He may have been key investors in Abbasi's scam.
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Sep 22, 2018 02:59pm
@WARRIs , btw which rules you are referring to? When the system is corrupt and people had seen this for 60 odd years, it's very difficult to change the mindset of individuals who have been brought up in this broken and subservient system. You and me and all of us should be blamed for the broken system. The only difference is that the rich do bigger crime when they get the opportunity and middle and poor do small crimes when given the chance. That could be money, power, resources, influence and many other ways of bypassing the system. Unless it's not done at individual level, no one can blame one or the other....
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Sep 22, 2018 03:01pm
What a system. What an amazing response from the police high ups. Instead of bringing to task their own for giving such a VIP treatment to these prisoners, they are focusing on investigating who took this picture and how it got leaked.
And after shifting Abbasi to another prison, they are conducting search of Adiala prison and going through the things of poor prisoners. In such a search the poor prisoners will suffer since their personal things would be turned upside down.
Shame on police high ups. Heads should roll all the way from Inspector General prisons to the Adiala jail superintendent for this shameful conduct.
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Sep 22, 2018 03:10pm
@Chinpaksaddique That is the only reason why the nation want's answers. How can this happen inside the jail
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Sep 22, 2018 03:41pm
Whever there is prisoner booked on Federal Charges, like Drugs, Corruptions, Murder and similar kind, and has been punished by the Courts, these prisoners must go to a Federal Jail, and we want a minimum of 5 Federal Jails, like Muchh, Attock, and Adialla. The prisoners of one province should go to another prison, and only near relatives are allowed to visit, NOT like Nawaz Sharif, he is NOT a political prisoner, he is in Jail on account of corruption, so NO one except his brother, sons and Mom, be allowed to visit him.
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Sep 22, 2018 04:06pm
@RK Just wondering If common citizens are also allowed to sit in superintendent office like this?
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Sep 22, 2018 04:24pm
Only in Pakistan... instead of launching an investigation about how convicts managed to hold a meeting in suprintendent office they are searching for a cameraman.
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Sep 22, 2018 04:38pm
They are all stooges of the West.
Western democracy is the most corrupt in the world.
It's all about money.
They stole from the whole world and today They are still
Stealing from us.
Using our corrupt politicians.
People need to realise there is no democracy in the West. It is controlled by the money men who are still stealing using corrupt politicians in all developing countries.
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Sep 22, 2018 04:52pm
Too little, too late. In fact, he has been able to scoop-out the benefits and advantages of whatever political, family, social, business, financial, marketing, clan, community and personal interests, intended out of the whole drama and episode, in order to make his presence felt,, assure his loyalty to the big boss, get counted and remain in the media limelight.
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Sep 22, 2018 05:21pm
Looks like these convicts are having a party!
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Sep 22, 2018 05:22pm
A completely disgusting and deplorable scene to see criminal and convicted incarcerated under law of the country given such opportunity & protocol by the govt. officials in contravention of rules.This picture showing body languages of these criminals in the jail superintendent office, that too in presence of deputy IG prisons, speaks the pathetic & unsavory environment showing our officialdom complete subjugation/failure of our institutions are faced with application of law equally to all irrespective of political clout & influence of those serving jail sentences for high crime.On the other hand presence of a illegal camera session & that too in one of prominent jail so close to the seat of power of the new govt.,compromising its trumpeted goal of bringing a much needed change, in our colonial style bearucracy across the board,does not need any further elaboration.This Implies that the onlycourse open is to cleanup all govt. institutions to do away with this business as usual w/o fail.
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Sep 22, 2018 05:35pm
The Jail Superintendent MUST GO.
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Sep 22, 2018 05:53pm
There is a English word ‘You are FIRED’
Simple.
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Sep 22, 2018 06:03pm
Hope the authorities in charge will act and correct soon this correct this nonsense
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Sep 22, 2018 07:00pm
Picture illustrates mockery of justice in Pakistan.
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Sep 22, 2018 07:07pm
Dont forget togive him hardest labour tasks. As a favour to pakistanis.
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Sep 22, 2018 07:26pm
I have a simple question. Who has taken dis pic. It seems to be pre planned.
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Sep 22, 2018 07:27pm
He must be promoted
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Sep 22, 2018 08:22pm
Weldone.. Govt. Has boarded on train whose next station is disaster.....political victimisation is first to destroy the image of govt.
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Sep 22, 2018 09:04pm
no doubt there are two different system one for the rich and affluent and the other for poor even in jail
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Sep 22, 2018 10:49pm
@Concerned well said !
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Sep 22, 2018 11:13pm
I saw the picture earlier but I just read this today and I am in total Awe! This clearly shows how political parties affiliation with jails work. Isn't the same was happening in Sindh, PPP and Karachi central jail collaboration?
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Sep 23, 2018 01:38am
So punish the person who brought the camera inside the office but not the officials responsible of bringing Abbasi to the office and sitting like he's in his living room. What a mockery of law and regulations
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Sep 23, 2018 04:57am
@Ahmed Saeed
You've spent time there, it seems.
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Sep 23, 2018 05:15am
What is wrong with the picture, they are not criminals, they are victims of political revenge, they are 3 times people's elected EX Prime Minister and People's electected ex MNA.
They were put in jail so selected persons were elected in present rigged up election.
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Sep 23, 2018 08:26am
what an irony!
They are looking for a phone or camera through which photo was taken.
The Jail supt. is the responsible person who allowed a convict to meet NS in his office.
What a mockery of law!
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Sep 23, 2018 10:52am
Where is the jail attire? Aren't they suppose to wear orange? Nawaz looks awfully comfortable and appears to be totally in charge in that room.
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Sep 23, 2018 02:45pm
Are the people still blind to this mafia of godfathers....
They want to remain slave to these kingdoms...
We didn't seek independence to be enslaved as the subjects of these thugs..
This is not democracy, this is thuggary and that too a glorified type of muhala politics !!!!
They will never allow the system to function with their approach..
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Sep 23, 2018 05:19pm
They are not political prisoners.
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Sep 23, 2018 07:40pm
The jail incharge must be sent to macch jail in Balochistan as a reward of his failure
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Sep 23, 2018 10:40pm
The prison supretendent should be fired for hosting this meeting. Abbassi is in jail on a drugs charge and should be treated as a drug dealer.
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Sep 23, 2018 10:42pm
@RK this is a jail and not a drawing room. These people should all be. Dressed like criminals.
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Sep 23, 2018 11:15pm
First of all all inmates should be treated equally. However there is no crime sitting in some office of jail while being in jail. NS was released on bail by this time. If others are treated equally and this is according to jail manual, there is no crime.
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Sep 24, 2018 07:19am
An inquiry to this misconduct must be launched. Jail officers are corrupt at its peak level.
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Sep 24, 2018 11:18am
@Qaiser Ahmed Never.
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Sep 24, 2018 11:23am
For a free and fair enquiry jail superintendent be suspended till final inquiry is completed and findings are made public.
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Sep 24, 2018 11:28am
@Faraz But you will not be entailed for a VVIP treatment unless your are not a politician of NZ or HA’s status.
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