Probe finds Adiala jail rife with corruption

Intelligence report says jail staff involved in running extortion, sleaze rackets

RAWALPINDI:

An intelligence inquiry probe has found rampant corruption, bribery and exploitation involving the officials of Adiala jail.

The Provincial Intelligence Centre, Home Department of Punjab, report has laid bare the appalling corruption and bribery in Central Jail Adiala Rawalpindi.

The report has also disclosed that discrimination is being meted out to some prisoners while other inmates belonging to the land mafia are facilitated and provided the VIP protocol by the jail staff after taking bribes from them.

The report, which has been sent to IG Prisons Punjab Mirza Shahid Saleem, the provincial chief secretary, the additional secretary of law and others, has recommended a thorough probe into the alleged corrupt practices by an additional secretary level officer.

The report said that under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent Jail (DSJ) Sarmad Hassan, who is in charge of the jail factory, “about 700 convicted prisoners are brought to the jail factory for labour work on a daily basis, but the prisoners, who pay a bribe, are exempted from labour work”.

The report said that “corruption and bribery are in vogue under the patronage of DSJ Sarmad Hassan". Reportedly, it said, about 200 prisoners, who pay a bribe of Rs5,000 per head, are spared from the labour work in the factory. “Previously, DSJ Sarman Hassan was posted suspended from service on the charges of corruption and malpractices,” the report said.

The report further said that Medical Officer Dr Umair Sheikh and nursing assistant Ameer Niazi, who are posted at the jail hospital, provide relief and facilitate prisoners after taking handsome bribes from them. “Under-trial prisoners are shifted from barracks, wards and cells to private rooms on the recommendations and advice of the hospital personnel,” the report said.

According to sources, about three years ago, the services of Dr Umair Sheikh were surrendered from Adiala ail to the Punjab Health Department on the charges of corruption. According to the sources, Dr Umair Sheikh, who is said to be the nephew of former Federal Minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, got posted in Adiala jail about a month ago.

According to the sources, Ameer Niazi received Rs1,50,000 as a bribe from the son of a prisoner, Muhammad Hafeez (confined in the jail in a murder case), to provide him relief in the jail hospital, which was, later on, proved during an inquiry.

The sources claimed that Dr Umair Sheikh and Ameer Niazi took a bribe to the tune of Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 from the inmates and provide them protocol in the jail hospital besides facilitating them to obtain bail on medical grounds.

The sources and the report said that a group comprising head warden Falak Sher, warden Fakhar Zaman, prisoner Noor Muhammad and prisoner Naveed operates inside the jail and supplies prohibited items, cigarettes, cash and narcotics to the prisoners after taking bribes.

Earlier, the sources said, Falak Sher was banned from posting inside the jail premises due to complaints of corruption against him. However, he managed to get posted to jail in 2021. He was earlier suspended and transferred to Bhakkar jail for his alleged involvement in corruption and gambling and malpractices, the sources said.

The report also said that VIP protocol is provided to prisoners belonging to the land mafia. The sources said that prisoners Raja Arshad and Naeem ljaz, the owners of a private housing society, are being provided VIP protocol in Adiala jail after receiving bribes from them.

 

.Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2022.