Technological upgrade: Areas around jail lose cellular services as jammers go up

At least seven jammers have been installed around Karachi Central Jail.


Our Correspondent January 22, 2014
At least seven jammers have been installed around Karachi Central Jail. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI:


At least seven jammers of cellular services have been installed around Karachi Central Jail, suspending cellphone services in nearby localities.


The authorities made this move after they recently received threats that attempts would be made to free more than 100 hardened criminals from the prisons in Karachi and Hyderabad. Though a final decision was taken last October, when the provincial government and jail officials agreed to install jammers to break off communication between criminal groups and their associates, the decision finally saw the light of day last week.

 photo Manzoor_zps42af4732.jpg

Jail official Nazeer Shah said work was still in progress to install more jammers near the prison, adding that the services were disconnected at the prison and the residential premises of jail staffers.

Residential areas in the locality — PIB Colony, Ghousia Colony, Jamshed Road, University Road, Kashmir Road and Sharafabad - have no or weak cellular phone signals.

The jail official denied, however, that they have received any threats. “No prisoner is treated inhumanely in the jail. They are not beaten or tortured. They get proper food and water,” he pointed out. “If anyone still has complaints against us for mistreating their men, then we can’t do anything.”

The official said that they were prepared to deal with any untoward incident, adding that with the help of the government, they have enough security officials to foil any attack.

In the past, inmates have been accused of spearheading attacks, such as last year’s attack on Sindh High Court’s Justice Maqbool Baqar. Also, in the raids and search operations carried out in prisons, inmates have frequently been found in possession of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.

The residents do appreciate the installation of jammers as it offers them more security but they are suffering due to a lack of connectivity. Umair Qazi, who lives on Jamshed Road, said that the move by the government was right as it was for their own safety. “However, weak signals make it difficult for me to stay in touch with my family and colleagues when I am out.”

In ones of the populated areas behind the jail, a resident, Manzoor, said that he could only use his mobile phone at work in Kabari Market. “Most of the people in the area are dependent on cellphones for communication as they don’t have landline connections.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2014.

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