Missing ex-jailer issued show-cause notice

RAWALPINDI:

The Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench has consolidated the miscellaneous petitions seeking the dismissal of a show-cause notice and protection from ongoing harassment for the missing former Deputy Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Muhammad Akram, with the main petition. A hearing is scheduled for September 10.

In a separate matter, the court dismissed an application related to forcible eviction from Akram's house and directed that a formal petition be filed on the issue.

Sources indicate that the show-cause notice over alleged negligence was issued to Akram, who has been missing under mysterious circumstances, due to allegations that he provided undue facilities to former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan during his detention at Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi. This followed serious negligence claims during Akram's tenure.

Additionally, the provincial interior ministry launched an inquiry into the death of a mentally ill prisoner and injuries to two others during Akram's posting at the jail. The show-cause notice was issued based on this inquiry.

Akram's wife, Maimoona Riaz, through her lawyer Imaan Mazari, filed a petition at the Rawalpindi Bench, which was heard by Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf. The Home Secretary, IG Prisons, DIG, and Superintendent Jail were named as parties in the petition. The court was asked to merge the petition for Akram's recovery with a previously filed petition and link the petition for his family's security to the main case.

It is noted that a case was registered on August 14 regarding Akram's alleged abduction from his official residence.

The departmental action against Akram follows an inquiry into a February 29 incident in which a prisoner, Muhammad Ehsan, used a water cup to remove a brick and attacked other prisoners, resulting in the death of Ijaz Rabbani and injuries to Shiraz and Hamad Ali. They were taken to the PIMS Hospital, Islamabad where Ijaz Rabbani later died. Punjab IG Jails, Mian Farooq Nazir, ordered an inquiry, and Rawalpindi DIG Jails Rana Rauf conducted the investigation.