RAWALPINDI: The inspector general (IG) of prisons Punjab has dismissed seven officials of Central Jail Adiala after they were found guilty of mistreatment and torture on inmates of the prison.

The sacked officials included an assistant superintendent, three head warders and three warders.

In addition, 10 warders were transferred to the district jail Gujrat against existing vacancies after they completed their tenure.

The transfer orders were issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prisons Rawalpindi region, Kamran Anjum.

Salik Jalal, the inspector general of prisons, issued a notification regarding major punishment (dismissal from service) awarded to the seven officials of the jail.

They were assistant superintendent Hasrat Hussain, warders Mohammad Raheel, Tahir Mehmood and Sabtain Abbas and head warders Munir Ahmed, Amir Hussain and Munir Ahmad.

Soon after the complaints of mistreatment and torture of inmates in the prison came to light, an assistant superintendent was suspended, 10 head warders and 17 warders were transferred to other jails of the province last month.

Of the 10 head warders and 17 warders, two head warders and four warders were suspended after they were found involved in mistreatment and torture.

Complaints of ill-treatment, torture and alleged corruption in Adiala jail have been coming to light frequently.

The mother of a 21-year-old under-trial prisoner Shahab Hussain had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), saying the jail superintendent and other staff members tortured her son and broke his finger.

She also alleged that her son, who was arrested in a terrorism case registered in Islamabad, was stripped and subjected to torture by jail officials.

The officials, she alleged, also demanded a bribe of Rs5,000 from him. She said the prisoner went on a hunger strike on September 9 and had become extremely weak.

A video of torture on a prisoner also went viral on social media and the matter reached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on which Chief Justice Athar Minallah visited the jail along with two judges from Islamabad and inquired about the problems of the prisoners.

After the visit of the chief justice, the 10 head warders and 17 warders of the jail were transferred to other jails of the region by DIG Kamran Anjum.

Meanwhile, Imran Naveed Ashraf, (BS-17), deputy superintendent district jail Jhelum, has been transferred and posted as the superintendent of the sub-jail Chakwal against a vacant post,

said a notification issued by the home department.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2022