Video of jail official taking bribe goes viral

Merely a day after two officials were suspended and another was transferred for allowing gambling in Adiala jail, a new video of an official taking a bribe from an inmate surfaced on Wednesday.

In the new video, the duty officer can be seen taking currency notes from an inmate. After the scandalous video surfaced, DIG Jail Rawalpindi Region Saeedullah Gondal suspended the official and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

In the latest video, the duty officer could be seen approaching the prisoner cautiously while looking around. In the video, the prisoner can be seen handing over the currency notes to the duty officer, who looks around before leaving the barrack.

The jail administration did not respond to calls made to get their version on the issue. DIG Prisons Rawalpindi Region Saeedullah Gondal said that after an initial inquiry by the jail superintendent, the official has been suspended and further inquiry had been ordered.

Gondal further said that there was a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, nepotism and abuse of power in prisons and crooked elements will face severe punishment. On Thursday, 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. 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? 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.

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 Sabtain 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. On October 25, the Islamabad High Court ordered to take action against IG prisons Punjab and the Adiala jail superintendent over the alleged ill-treatment of prisoners in jail.