Suspension of 23 Multan jail officials recommended

LAHORE:Punjab Home Department Directorate of Monitoring (DOM) has recommended to home secretary to suspend 23 officials of Central Jail, Multan forthwith and hand them over to Anti-Corruption Punjab after allegations of corrupt practices against them proved, The News has learnt.

According to the documents available with The News, the inquiry against Superintendent Central Jail Multan, had been conducted by The Directorate of Monitoring (DOM) on the complaints of prisoners in which Jam Asif Iqbal was found involved in corrupt practices and extortion of money.

The document of inquiry revealed that the Superintendent Central Jail Multan, along with officials was grossly involved in corrupt practices and extortion of money from inmates as narrated by the complainant prisoners in application.

They (Asif and his colleagues/subordinates) are running an organised gang involved in collecting money from prisoners at various occasion on admission of prisoners, visitors, meeting with prisoners, relaxation of labour work, Langar duty, luggage cleaning etc.

The document shows, it is established fact that all affairs of central jail Multan are being run through mutually agreed contract of heavy amounts. In a nutshell, there is nothing free to the imprisoned individuals. The officer is violating Jail rules.

The document revealed that the facts were quite alarming and rendered the jail affairs vulnerable. The officers said in document that the central jail management was exerting pressure and resorting to stern action against the prisoners who had complained.

Surprisingly, right from the a few wardens to Superintendent Jail, everybody has been found involved in extracting money.

The officers, including the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Medical Officer, four head warders, and 15 other officials are directly involved in bribery and extortion of money.

There are a few cases of prisoners which are mature for parole, but are not being given the facility because they are not in a position to pay bribe. To avoid Langar duty, rigorous imprisonment inmates have to pay bribe in the jail, the document shows. The prisoners are forced to pay money for getting a place of their own choice. Torture cell was operational, said the document.

During the inquiry conducted by DOM, it was revealed that some jails officials also exploited and allured the visiting female family members of prisoners.

A case was picked up on the complaint of prisoner Khizer Hayat. The case was investigated and statement was recorded of the aggrieved woman. The jail officials also confessed the relationship with the aggrieved lady. After that the prisoner Khizer Hayat had divorced his wife even his wife had four children. Furthermore, maltreatment with children is a matter of routine, reveals the document.