Investigation underway: Govt forms committee to probe DI Khan jailbreak

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has formed an inquiry committee to probe Monday’s militant attack on the DI Khan Central Jail which resulted in the escape of nearly 250 prisoners. 

According to an official notification issued by the K-P Home and Tribal Affairs Department on Wednesday, the committee has been granted 15 days to complete its inquiry and present its report to the government.

It comprises Board of Revenue senior member Waqar Ayub, who has been appointed the committee’s chairman, Home and Tribal Affairs Special Secretary Syed Alamgir Shah, K-P Additional IG (Special Branch) Syed Akhtar Ali Shah and representatives of the Headquarters 11 Corps Peshawar.

The handout states the inquiry committee is tasked with unearthing the reasons which led to the incident and to fix responsibility. It would investigate what actions, if any, were taken following the threats the K-P Home Department received on July 28 and July 29.

“The committee would investigate whether a security review of prisons was undertaken in light of the threats and what decisions were taken to improve security provisions,” the notification reads, adding those officials responsible for negligence in their work would be identified.

The committee is also tasked to come up with comprehensive and plausible recommendations to ensure the safety of prisons in K-P.

“The Home and Tribal Affairs Department shall provide secretarial support to the committee,” the handout states.

Meanwhile, DI Khan DSP Central Prison Ghulam Rabbai was suspended and DPO Khalid Sohail was made officer on special duty with immediate effect for ignoring their duties.

Nisar Marwat has been appointed as the new DPO of DI Khan by K-P IGP Ihsan Ghani. Marwat has been ordered to immediately assume charge.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2013.