GUJRAT: At least 11 officials of Gujrat district jail, including an assistant superintendent, have been suspended from service by inspector general (IG) of prisons in the light of the findings of an inquiry committee constituted to probe into the recent riots by the inmates.

Moreover, at least 40 warders from Faisalabad region’s jails have temporarily been posted in Gujrat district jail for a period of 90 days.

At least four new assistant superintendents jail (ASJs) have also been posted in Gujrat jail to overcome the officers’ shortage following the suspension and removal of officials from there.

According to a notification issued by the prisons department, at least eight warders were suspended from service for a period of 90 days. They will face a regular inquiry under

Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) act.

Earlier, three officials, including ASJ Khushi Muhammad, had been suspended and removed from Gujrat jail.

40 new warders, four ASJs posted in the facility

On Jan 23, the inmates had burnt the jail assets, including phone jammers, furniture, ration, a water filtration plant and others things, in protest against what they called corruption and misbehavior of the jail officials as Gujrat city’s DSP Parvez Gondal. At least 17 officials were injured during the riots as a result of stone pelting by the inmates.

Gujrat police had booked at least 250 unidentified inmates under different sections on the report of the jail’s Deputy Superintendent Rana Muhammad Latif, however no arrest has so far been made in this regard.

Punjab prisons IG had constituted a five-members committee headed by Rawalpindi prisons DIG Saeedullah Gondal to probe into the riots.

Official sources said Mr Gondal had submitted the findings of the inquiry to the prisons IG for further legal proceedings.

Earlier, Gujrat Assistant Commissioner (AC) Ahsan Mumtaz had also conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to the home department regarding the riots, had declared the jail administration responsible for “misbehavior and bribery” prevailing in the facility, leading to riots. The AC had recommended a regular inquiry into the jail’s affairs, since this was the second incident of riots by inmates of Gujrat jail allegedly for the same reasons.

It is learnt that Rawalpindi prisons DIG Saeedullah Gondal has been monitoring the affairs of Gujrat district jail on a regular basis since the eruption of riots. The jail administration has also requested the health department to ensure the appointment of a medical officer in Gujrat jail forthwith.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023