Jailer suspended for facilitating militants

Nasir Khan allegedly allowed militants use the prison’s telephones

KARACHI: Sindh Home Department has suspended Sukkur Prison’s senior jail superintendent Nasir Khan and launched an inquiry against him for allegedly allowing incarcerated militants to make calls through official telephones.

Talking to The Express Tribune Sindh Minister for Prisons Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar said the jail department had learnt it through confidential sources that SSP Jail Nasir Khan was facilitating a Taliban leader Fazal and other Jihadi prisoners.  “On the recommendation of Sindh Prisons Inspector General (IG) Nusrat Hussain Mangan, home department has suspended him,” he said.

In a letter, dated May 5, the IG had requested the home secretary to take action against the official. This letter – available with The Express Tribune – was the second such communication as Magan had highlighted the same issue in an earlier missive sent to the home department in April.

“He [Khan] has given access to militants to use official numbers – 071-55804033, 071-5804034 – and make calls to various parts of the country. This state of affairs is very alarming,” Mangan said, adding that inmates and jail officials also lodged complaint against Khan.



“Not only is he accused of facilitating militants, but he has also bungled funds. DIG Jails Sukkur has also recommended action against him and the court has already passed remarks calling him a corrupt official. In view of this situation, we ask higher authorities for action” Mangan said.

The IG said they had traced the entire call record including outgoing numbers, adding that most of the calls were made in March and April this year. After the suspension, an inquiry committee has been formed under DIG Ashraf Nizamani to investigate into the allegations and submit its report.

The media has constantly been highlighting that Sindh’s jails have become hatcheries for criminals and many targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom incidents are managed from prisons.

The authorities have however denied this, claiming that they have banned use of mobile phones by installing jammers that ensure that no inmate calls outside.  According to officials there are over 25,000 inmates in 25 jails across the province, of which 80% are under trial.

“Around 30 militants, majority of them belonging to Karachi, are jailed in Sukkur prison,” DIG Jail Sukkur Kazi Nazir said, adding that after proper inquiry disciplinary action will be taken against Nasir Khan.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Prisons Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar also held a meeting in which it was decided to restore B-Class facility for jail inmates.

Talking to media after the meeting, the minister said salaries of jail officials and compensation amount of martyred cops will also be increased. “The salaries will be made on a par with salaries of district police,” he said.