The Islamabad High Court Tuesday sought comprehensive report from Inspector General (IG) Punjab Prisons pertaining to the torturing of 68-year-old prisoner in Adiala Jail. Ghulam Mustafa Gilani, who is undergone life imprisonment at Adiala Jail, was brutally tortured by the Jail staff on which Gilani's daughter filed a petition, alleging that her father had faced severe abuse and torture at the hands of jail staff.
A single-member bench led by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui resumed hearing of the petition filed by Samiya Mustafa Gilani, the prisoner's daughter. The court directed the IG to conduct an inquiry of the incident and submit a detailed report within 15 days in this regard. "There is a perception about the jail environment that no law exists for common prisoners and only influential prisoners get facilities," the judge observed.
He warned that the court would not tolerate such inhuman attitude of Jail staff. During the course of proceedings, IG Punjab Prisons, Mian Farooq Nazir and Jail Assistant Superintendent Tasawar Iqbal, who allegedly tortured Ghulam Mustafa Gilani appeared before the court. IG Punjab Prisons apprised the court that an inquiry team headed by DIG Shahid Saleem has started investigation of the matter, however, he added the victim Ghulam Mustafa Gilani refused to record his statement before the inquiry team.
Meanwhile, Counsel for petitioner Mustafa Gilani expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by the team. The court adjourned proceedings of the case till June 13. It is pertinent to mention that Gilani, in his petition, alleged that he had faced severe abuse and torture at the hands of jail staff.
Ghulam Mustafa Gilani had recorded his statement with the court, alleging that on May 6, Jail Assistant Superintendent entered his cell to search it. When he objected, Iqbal allegedly "stripped off my clothes and tortured me," Mustafa alleged. The petitioner said that after the incident, the official deprived him of all the basic facilities usually available to other prisoners.