Gujrat jail riot: Team recommends transfer of 12 death row inmates to other jails

LAHORE: The fact-finding team constituted to probe the riot fallout in district jail Gujrat earlier this month has recommended transfer of at least 12 death row inmates to other district jails on administrative grounds.

Headed by Commandant Punjab Prisons Staff Training College Sahiwal Salik Jalal, the inquiry team held responsible at least 33 jail officials and 12 unconfirmed condemned prisoners (UCCPs) for the riot fallout and recommended the Punjab home department to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officials under the PEEDA Act, 2018, and transfer the identified inmates to other district jails in the best interest of prison administration. It may be mentioned that a UCCP is a prisoner who is sentenced to death from a sessions court but his/her appeal is pending before a high court.

The Punjab government on July 6 had suspended two senior officials of district jail Gujrat - Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum and Deputy Superintendent Sarmad Hassan - for 90 days on charges of corruption, misconduct, inefficiency and negligence. In addition, six jail warders were also suspended after the riot.

By mentioning names of senior officers, the inquiry report says that in view of relevant statements, circumstantial evidence, facts and findings, they were responsible for the riot fallout owing to their involvement in corruption, criminal negligence, inefficiency and loose command and control.

On July 2, inmates had staged a protest demonstration against the jail administration following a clash with some prison officials over multiple issues being faced by them including poor quality of meal, ban on coming out of barracks as well as meeting with visitors and demand of bribe.

After the incident, police had lodged a case against nine officials of Gujrat jail including its superintendent, deputy superintendent and an assistant superintendent and six warders as well as five inmates on multiple charges. However, all the nine nominated officials had been granted bail before arrest from a local court until July 18.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020