Alleged torture: Jail staff called to court

KARACHI: Central Jail Karachi’s superintendent and other officials were summoned by the Sindh High Court (SHC) over a case of alleged mistreatment of an under-trial prisoner.

On Monday, a division bench of the SHC comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Imam Bux Baloch ordered the jail superintendent and other staff to appear before the court on January 24.

The bench heard a constitutional petition filed by M Aslam Khan, who alleged that his son, Muhammad Shafi alias Asif, was tortured by the prison authorities.

The petitioner maintained that on September 15, 2010 at 11:30 pm, jail officials  Hassan Sahto, Aslam, Constable Akram Arain and two others took his son out of barrack No 24 and brought him to the “mari” (at the entrance of the prison), where he was tortured and asked to confess about a pistol and explosive material that he allegedly possesses. On Monday, Sindh AAG, appearing for the state, requested for time to get a report from the jail superintendent and prepare a counterargument.

The bench allowed the request and adjourned further proceedings for a week. It also ordered attendance of prison officials on the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2011.