RAWALPINDI: Six Adiala Jail officials have been suspended for 90 days after a prisoner managed to escape due to alleged negligence.
The escaped prisoner, Nauman, was serving time in a narcotics case. According to sources, Nauman was brought back to the jail after a court hearing, however, he was missing when the authorities counted the inmates later on.
The jail authorities tried to put the matter under the carpet, however, sources suggested that the police launched investigation into the matter.
Following the investigation, IG Prisons issued suspension orders for six staff members.
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Those suspended include assistant superintendents Altaf Hussain and Sajjad Haider, Head Warden Muhammad Riaz, and wardens Imran Khan, Ammar Zahoor, and Sher Zaman.
The investigation reportedly noted that the prisoner managed to escape due to the ongoing construction work at the jail. He got mixed up with the labourers and flee the prison.
Sources revealed that this is not the first time negligence incidents have been reported at Adiala Jail. The IG Prisons assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible and a thorough investigation is underway.
In June 2024, 18 high-profile prisoners had escaped from the Rawalakot District Jail after taking the jail staff hostage at gunpoint.
According to the police, one prisoner was killed during a shooting while attempting to escape the prison.
After the breakout, security had been put on high alert throughout the district, and checkpoints had been established at various locations to rearrest the escaped prisoners.
Superintendent of Police Muhammad Riaz Mughal had said that one prisoner held the guard at the main gate at gunpoint, allowing the other prisoners to escape.
The escaped prisoners were convicted in terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking cases, police said.
Following the escape, seven jail staffers, including the deputy superintendent were arrested and an investigation was launched.
Moreover, the Azad Kashmir High Court was requested to form a judicial commission to investigate the incident.
One of the prisoners, Ghazi Shahzad, is still at large. He was facing terrorism charges. The Azad Kashmir High Court had ordered to transfer him to Mirpur.