Precautionary measures: SHC calls report on status of jammers in prisons
Petitioner claimed inmates are running their gangs through cell phones from inside the prisons.
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) summoned a report from the provincial inspector-general of prisons regarding the installation of jammers and use of cell phones by inmates in detention facilities across the province.
The bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, was hearing a petition filed by a civil rights litigant, Rana Faizul Hasan, who had sought direction for the chief secretary, provincial secretaries of prison, home and law departments to ensure that none of the prisoners were allowed to use cell phones at any of the prisons in the province.
According to him, the Karachi Central prison houses around 4,500 inmates including high-profile prisoners, terrorists and target killers associated with various political parties.
In his plea, Hasan had submitted that gangsters were operating their network through cellular phones from the prisons, where contraband narcotics were also made available with the connivance of the jail administration. There were reports that some inmates were involved in cases of kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes with the help of their aides outside the prisons, he had claimed.
The petitioner submitted that he had made several requests to the authorities for the installation of jammers but the equipment was installed in Central Prison, Karachi, only.
He had pleaded the court to direct the authorities to ensure the installation of cellular phone jammers in all prisons across the province.
During Monday's hearing, a law officer for the provincial government, Rafique Rajvori, suggested that, "It would be in the fitness of things if the Prisons IG made a categorical statement regarding the installation of jammers and use of cell phones by inmates."
At his request, the bench summoned a report from the Prisons IG in this regard and adjourned the hearing till September 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2014.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) summoned a report from the provincial inspector-general of prisons regarding the installation of jammers and use of cell phones by inmates in detention facilities across the province.
The bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, was hearing a petition filed by a civil rights litigant, Rana Faizul Hasan, who had sought direction for the chief secretary, provincial secretaries of prison, home and law departments to ensure that none of the prisoners were allowed to use cell phones at any of the prisons in the province.
According to him, the Karachi Central prison houses around 4,500 inmates including high-profile prisoners, terrorists and target killers associated with various political parties.
In his plea, Hasan had submitted that gangsters were operating their network through cellular phones from the prisons, where contraband narcotics were also made available with the connivance of the jail administration. There were reports that some inmates were involved in cases of kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes with the help of their aides outside the prisons, he had claimed.
The petitioner submitted that he had made several requests to the authorities for the installation of jammers but the equipment was installed in Central Prison, Karachi, only.
He had pleaded the court to direct the authorities to ensure the installation of cellular phone jammers in all prisons across the province.
During Monday's hearing, a law officer for the provincial government, Rafique Rajvori, suggested that, "It would be in the fitness of things if the Prisons IG made a categorical statement regarding the installation of jammers and use of cell phones by inmates."
At his request, the bench summoned a report from the Prisons IG in this regard and adjourned the hearing till September 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2014.