RAHIM YAR KHAN:
A riot broke out in Rahim Yar Khan district jail early on Friday morning after a prisoner died the night before allegedly after jail staff took too long before providing him medical attention after suffering a cardiac arrest.
At 10pm on Thursday night, prisoner Iqbal told other prisoners that his cellmate, Manzoor Ahmad, 60, had suffered a cardiac arrest. Prisoners immediately informed the jail administration of Manzoor’s condition.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Rescue 1122 PRO Zahoor Ahmad said that they received an emergency call from district jail at 1028 pm. He said the ambulance reached the prison two minutes later. “The jail administration returned the vehicle telling our staff that the patient had expired,” he added.
Noting that Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital was just a few hundred metres away, prisoners blamed prison authorities for the 30 minute delay.
Around 7am in the morning, dozens of prisoners assembled at the jail ground and chanted slogans against prison administration. They burnt old clothes to protest poor medical arrangements and procedures at the jail.
A few were able to climb the jail roof after which police fired 5-6 teargas shells on protesting prisoners to disperse them.
Notified of Manzoor’s death in the morning, his relatives Nazar Hussain, Khadim Hussain and Fayyaz Ahmed lodged a formal complaint against administration. Acting on their application, the sessions judge directed Civil Judge Mehnaz Hayat to lead an investigation into the matter.
Judge Hayat reached the jail at around 10am and recorded the statements of Superintendent Shaikh Shahid Naeem, jail hospital staff, other prisoners and Manzoor’s family. Prisons DIG Rana Abdur Rauf came from Multan to hold an inquiry of his own.
Talking to media, Jail Superintendent Shaikh said that Manzoor suffered a heart attack at 10pm. He said the duty officers had called Rescue immediately. He said, “Before we let a prisoner out of jail, there are some legal formalities to complete. Manzoor died during shifting.”
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Manzoor’s elder brother Khadim Hussain said he had been arrested by Bhong police 10 months ago to answer questions about a murder. He said that this was the first time he had suffered a heart ailment.
Manzoor’s body was later shifted to Shaikh Zayed Hospital for autopsy via jail ambulance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2012.
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