Ex-IG Prisons Punjab Shahid Saleem Baig denies arrest by agencies

Former Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Prisons, Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, has returned home and denied reports of his arrest by intelligence agencies.

In a video message shared after his return, Baig showed a news segment on television reporting his alleged detention. "I’m sipping tea at home, listening to the news of my own arrest. This is what yellow journalism looks like," Baig remarked in the video.

He categorically denied being taken into custody by intelligence agencies, stating, "I am at home and cannot say much at the moment." However, sources claimed that Baig was indeed taken into custody by intelligence agencies for questioning and was released after the investigation, allowing him to return home.

Baig served as IG Prisons for five years before retiring shortly before PTI founder Imran Khan’s detention. Sources also indicated that Baig’s detention was related to an ongoing investigation into the facilitation of Imran Khan during his incarceration.

This investigation has already led to the questioning of Adiala Jail’s former Deputy Superintendent Zafar and an office superintendent, Nazim Ali Shah, from the DIG Prisons office in Rawalpindi.

It is noteworthy that two former brigadiers and a colonel of the army have been arrested for allegedly conveying messages from former DG ISI Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed to Imran Khan during his time in Adiala Jail.

Additionally, former Deputy Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Muhammad Akram, is currently in the custody of intelligence agencies.