Adiala jail staff, inmates unsafe: LHC

RAWALPINDI: Hearing a petition challenging the detention of Adiala Jail superintendent, Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench Tuesday remarked that the petitioner had no authentic information about the custody of the official and the court could not instruct anyone on the basis of assumptions.

Addressing the petitioner’s counsel Imran Mazari, Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf remarked, “To whom should the court give directions because we are not giving instructions to anyone on assumptions. You do not have any confirmed information; please tell the court who is in custody of Muhammad Akram.”

Petitioner Maimoona Riaz was present in the court along with her son.

Mazari told the court that the FIR had been registered after the hearing of their petition. She was of opinion that the petition was admissible.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the city police officer’s (CPO) answer with regard to the detention and directed him to reappear on August 29.

The defence ministry also submitted its report to the court, stating that Muhammad Akram was not in the custody of any of its agencies and the information about him had also been obtained from the intelligence agencies, so the request related to Muhammad Akram should be handled to the extent of the defence ministry.

Assistant advocate general told the court that the CPO Rawalpindi had sent letters to various agencies and the police of the four provinces seeking details about Muhammad Akram.

The court termed the response of CPO Rawalpindi unsatisfactory and remarked that the instant case was a very serious matter but the jail administration still did not know how their officer disappeared from the jail premises.

“This means the staff, including the prisoners and others, are also unsafe in the jail. Where is the writ of the state? If everyone does their duty, then no one can have any problem,” remarked Justice Rauf. Further hearing of the petition will be held on August 29.