HYDERABAD, May 4 Inspector General Prisons, Sindh, Syed Mushtaq Shah, here on Monday painted a gloomy picture of Sindh's jails before Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench and said this department has gone to dogs. He conceded before the court that jail officials don't follow prison rules.

He had appeared before the court after being summoned by Mr.Justice Amir Hani Muslim, who is conducting suo motu proceedings into case of a torture victim, Shahrukh Khanzada of central jail. Sindh Home Secretary (special) Kamran Dost, DIG prisons Allauddin Abbasi, newly-appointed central prison superintendent Muzaffar Alam Siddiqui, were also in attendance.

The IGP agreed with observation of judge that jail officials are not following prison rules. He said that he held a meeting on assuming charge of office to shift around 150 to 200 prisoners who were trouble-makers but prisoners got clue and they climbed the roofs to create law and order situation. “We need our own force to handle prisoners. I've given such proposal to home secretary informally. We literally beg the concerned DPO of district to provide force to control mob in jail if there are disturbances. Everyone shifts burden of responsibility”, he said.

He added that in central prison there were only 300 jail staff which is insufficient because problems are countless. He admitted that it was jail officials' fault that they didn't maintain injury register and comply with prison rules. “I believe that if Gulzar Channa has stated that he visits prison once a week, he has lied. Superintendent can't visit jail as he will be beaten by inmates. He said that it was his resolve that prisoners should be disciplined.

He said, it was a very complex situation. He added that Larkana district jail chief had to assure prisoners that he won't take action against them. “Gone are the days when jail warders used to discipline prisoners. I've requested Sindh home secretary informally to raise prison's force of 4,000 to 5,000”, he elaborated. He proposed that there should be a regional officer for jails on pattern of Regional Police Officer (RPO) so that prison chiefs shouldn't have to request DPOs to get assistance.

“It has become the order of the day that prison officials are held hostages by prisoners. These officials haven't carried sticks for past 18 years. I had even proposed that under present conditions an old convict with fairly good character should be made superintendent”, he said. He said that he had asked prison administrations to let prisoners climb over the roof but they shouldn't be given any concession. “For how long will they be staying on the roof? But they (prison chief) disagree with me. Prisoners considered it our weakness”, he said.

Justice Muslim observed that he was not persuaded for by what he has stated as without connivance of officials drugs and mobile phones can't enter jail. “And how ration shops are allowed to be established and under what law?”, he asked.

IGP said that these shops had become bone of contention when administration decided to close them and unruly prisoners resisted it. He claimed that he insisted that remission to those who create trouble should be withdrawn and it should be selectively used. “They (jail chief) don't have guts to withdraw remission form inmates. Sir, this department has gone to dogs. Officials don't have courage and your observations are right and I subscribe to it”, he remarked. He said that prison officials should be trusted and they would give results but prisoners feel proud when jail officials are called to courts.