Two officials suspended for allowing gambling in jail

Inquiry ordered after video of inmates playing cards with money at stake goes viral

RAWALPINDI:

Two officials of Adial jail were suspended and another was transferred to Attock jail after a video of inmates playing cards on bet went viral on social media.

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

Based on the inquiry, seven officials including an assistant superintendent of Adiala jail were removed from service after they were found guilty of corrupt practices, mistreating and torturing prisoners.

However, this did not stop illegal activities in the jail where inmates continue to indulge in gambling and other illegal activities after greasing the palms of jail officials in the prison.

After the video went viral, DIG prisons Rawalpindi Region Saeedullah Gondal ordered an inquiry into the issue. The DIG prisons also suspended two head warders and transferred another to Attock jail.

In the video, the inmates playing cards in jail’s barrack-2 could be heard sarcastically saying that after the visit of Islamabad High Court former Chief Justice Athar Minullah, the jail administration has sourced out the jail on contract.

In the video, the prisoners could also be heard saying that they play cards and bet because they have bribed the prison officials.

The prisoners could be heard saying that had they not paid the bribe, who would have let them play cards and bet?

Adiala jail Superintendent Ejaz Asghar did not reply after The Express Tribune sent him the video of gambling in jail and sought his comment on the issue.

Sources said that after an initial inquiry, head warders Nafees Khan and Muhammad Zulfiqar have been suspended, while head warder Muhammad Yasin was transferred to Attock jail.

DIG Jails Gondal said that the inquiry was under way and a final report along with recommendations will be sent to IG Jails Punjab Mubashir Malik for further action.

Earlier, at least 10 other officials of Adiala jail were transferred to Gujarat jail for their involvement in the ill-treatment of jail inmates.

Assistant Superintendent Hasrat Hussain, warder in charge Muhammad Raheel, Tahir Mehmood, Muneer Ahmed, Aamir Hussain, Muneer Ahmed and Sabatin Abbas, who had earlier been suspended during the inquiry, were later removed from service.

On the other hand, 10 warders of Adiala jail were transferred to Gujarat jail for their alleged involvement in mistreating inmates.

Earlier, Islamabad High Court former Chief Justice Athar Minallah along with two judges visited the jail and inquired from the prisoners about the problems they were facing in jail.