Dasti’s fan attempts suicide

MUZAFFARGARH: A man attempted suicide after watching the video statement of imprisoned MNA Jamshed Dasti about alleged torture in the jail.

The video went viral on social media. A police official said Pathany Khan got depressed after watching the video of Dasti in which he complained that he was being tortured and maltreated in the prison. He added in sheer frustration, Pathany Khan tried to end his life and jumped into the river.

However, the locals and rescue officials rescued him and shifted him to the hospital for treatment.

Recently, Chief Justice Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, took notice of alleged torture on MNA Jamshed Dasti and directed the judge of the anti-terrorism court and sessions judge Sargodha to visit the jail today (Friday) and submit a report.

The district and sessions judge said that he will visit Dasti’s cell within two days and if there are any facilities unavailable action will be taken against jail authorities.



Parliamentarian Jamshed Dasti had complained of severe torture and starvation in the prison, asking the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of his ‘ordeal’.

In a video which went viral on social media on Thursday, Dasti pleaded for help through the grilled windows of a prison vehicle.

The chairman of the Pakistan Awami Raj party was arrested for allegedly instigating people to open the sluice gate at Kalu headworks channel to release water in Dinga minor, Muzaffargarh canal.

Irrigation officials had warned the MNA against opening the gate that had been closed for many months due to litigation. However, Dasti stated that he released water to facilitate the farmers who had been complaining of water shortage.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan criticised the government for resorting to ‘dictatorial’ tactics in handling Dasti’s case.

“Those shedding tears on appearance before the joint investigation team (JIT) investigating the Panamagate case shamelessly use force on [political] rivals,” Imran said in a statement.

“Members of the Sharif family involved in crimes of heinous nature raise a hue and cry when they appear before the JIT,” he added.

Imran said “use of violence on Jamshed Dasti behind bars is atrocious and shameless.” He went on to add that the Sharif brothers during their tenure were using the tools of dictatorship. “Zia, the mentor and guardian of Sharifs, used force on his political rivals in the same way,” he said.

The Sharif brothers should not think they would not be accountable for their act of tyranny, he said and demanded that ‘torture on Dasti’ be stopped forthwith and measures be taken for his release.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2017.