The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the Punjab inspector general (IG) Prisons to hold an enquiry and submit report on a petition accusing jail authorities of torturing a prisoner during his incarceration.
A single member bench of IHC issued the directive while hearing a plea filed by Samiya Mustafa Gilani, the daughter of Ghulam Mustafa Gilani, through her counsel stating that the jail authorities severely tortured her 68-year-old father on May, 6.
During the course of hearing, Justice Siddiqui asked IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir about the alleged torture on the petitioner’s father adding that when the environment of jail would be better.
It is inhuman to strip naked an old man and force him to walk in the jail, Justice Siddiique said.
“Since the incident occurred, all basic facilities have been withdrawn from me and I am not even allowed to meet my family,” he said.
Justice Siddiqui noted that the allegations against the jail authorities were of serious nature.
“There is a perception about the jail environment that no law exists for common prisoners and only influential prisoners get facilities,” the judge observed.
Counsel for petitioner Mustafa alleged that on May 6, Jail Assistant Superintendent Tasawar Iqbal entered his client’s cell to search it. When he objected, Iqbal allegedly removed his own vest, “stripped off my clothes and tortured me,” Mustafa alleged.
The petitioner’s counsel said that after the incident, the official deprived him all the basic facilities usually available to other prisoners.
