Jailed terrorists using cell phones

Covert agencies have reported to the Punjab government that imprisoned terrorists are being provided with cell phones.

BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has issued a notification to Punjab IG, divisional commissioners, DCOs, RPOs, DPOs informing them that covert agencies have reported that imprisoned terrorists are being provided with cell phones.

Police officials have received information stating that captured terrorists are still active as they are able to provide information to their accomplices through their cell phones. All police commissioners and DCOs in collaboration with well reputed police officials have been ordered to pay surprise visits to the jails in question and investigate the matter in detail.

The police officials were told that stern action should be taken against officials who have provided cell phones to arrested terrorists.

On the orders of the IG prisons Punjab, DIG prisons Multan region Mirza Shahid Baig paid a surprise visit to the Multan central jail. During an investigation a heavy cache of drugs, including marijuana and heroin, were recovered and two mobile phones were seized from death row prisoners.

Central jail superintendent Mohsin Rafiq was questioned in this regard and has said that a matchbox and a mobile phone battery was seized from the roof of a barrack, adding that ‘this was not a serious matter’.

DIG Baig has ordered the suspension of Rafiq and has asked that a detailed inspection of all prisoners be carried out.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2010.