Official shuffle: Karachi Central Jail gets new superintendent

Prisons IG claims transfers are a routine matter, former superintendent believes otherwise


Our Correspondent December 17, 2015
Karachi Central Jail. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS

KARACHI: The superintendent of the Karachi Central Jail was transferred and replaced by another official through a late-night notification issued by Prisons IG Nusrat Mangan on Wednesday night.

Kazi Nazir Ahmed, the former superintendent of the Karachi Central Jail, was transferred and directed to report to Prison Headquarters, Karachi. He has been replaced by SSP Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh. Meanwhile, Raja Mumtaz Ahmed has been posted as the new superintendent of district Malir prison.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Prisons IG Nusrat Mangan confirmed the changes in the setup. He, however, attributed no reason in particular for the transfers, claiming it was a routine matter.

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A day earlier, the former superintendent had expressed concern that he might be removed from the post over the issue of 'illegal' release of four under-trial prisoners, accused of possessing explosive substances.

On December 8, the ATC had given three weeks' time to the jail authorities to inquire about the release of four prisoners, Amanullah, Khalid Ahmed, Mohammad Umar and Manzoor Ahmed. The men were arrested in July and charged with keeping explosives in Saeedabad. Their case was being heard in the ATC. The were also charged with selling Iranian oil illegally, the latter charges being heard by a judicial magistrate.

On October 6, the four men were let go after the judicial magistrate issued their release orders. However, their case in the ATC court was still pending. After the non-production of the prisoners at the ATC, the judge issued show-case notice to Ahmed and demanded a reply from him by December 28.

In his defence, the superintendent told The Express Tribune that several times, cases of prisoners are transferred to other courts, or are being heard in other courts as well, and jail authorities are provided no information about it.

Ahmed has served as jail superintendent since February 2013. He played a major role in introducing reform programmes for prisoners in jail, which included publishing the first-ever magazine. He also introduced enhanced safety measures and installed mobile jammers around the premises.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2015.

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