Calling all prisoners...
A surprise search operation was conducted by Rahim Yar Khan district jail officials under orders from the Rahim Yar Khan district police officer (DPO).
The police officials searched compound number 4 of the prison and also strip searched the prisoners.
Police officials found mobile phones and drugs from the prisoners. District jail superintendent police (SP) Chaudary Muhammad Arshad declined to comment about the investigation.
“We did have cell phones but that was because we had all paid the police to be allowed to keep them,” one of the prisoners, Saadullah told the DPO and his team. The prisoners contended that they had all paid the police to be allowed to keep cell phones and that the police had promised to warn them before any search operations.
The DPO has ordered an inquiry into the dealings of the district jail senior police staff. “The fact that the police may have been negotiating with prisoners is a very serious matter. This can seriously compromise security,” the DPO told the press.
Rahim Yar Khan district jail in-charge Shahid Naeem said that he was unaware of any raid having taken place in the prison and denied any search of the prisoners.
Despite the denial from jail authorities, several prisoners called reporters and told them about the incident. The prisoners said that the day they had been brought to the prison they were all asked whether they ‘wished’ to keep a cell phone and that they would have to pay extra for the privilege. The prisoners said that they had all paid Rs2,000 to be allowed to keep a cell phone.
“If it was against the rules then they shouldn’t have offered us the choice. We should not be punished for this, the police should,” said prisoner Daniyaal, while speaking to the press.
One of the officials deputed in the jail, confirmed the story on the condition that his identity would be kept secret. Prisoners in the district jail have protested against the police search operation and have broken several doors and windows of the jail. The prisoners demanded that standard rules should be implemented in the jail. “If cell phones are forbidden then they should be forbidden for everyone.
The police should not be allowed to confiscate our belongings after making us pay for them,” Daniyaal said.
The DPO has ordered a detailed enquiry into the workings of the district jail.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2010.
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