Frequent terrorist acts, particularly the attack on Bannu Jail and killing of 10 personnel at Lahore, have led to the worst kind of fears and unrest amongst officers and officials of the Prisons Department. Militants imprisoned in various jails are now not only exempted from every sort of punishment and labor, they are dictating terms to jail administrations in connection with the prison affairs.
Sources told Pakistan Today that after the attack on Bannu Jail, hardcore militants were being housed at Haripur, Peshawar, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan jails. The government has already established Internment Centers in Peshawar, Kohat and Lakki Marwat where those involved in militancy and terrorism are being kept.
However, in the wake of April 15, 2012 attack at Bannu, which led to the escape of around 384 prisoners, including 26 sentenced to death and more than 150 hardcore militants, running the affairs of various jails has become a lofty task for authorities. Beside the Bannu jail incident, the escape of notorious militants Nadeem Abbass and Zakim Afridi from Peshawar Jail in August 2011 confirmed the links of some jail officials with militants. Now, almost all staffers have become suspicious of each other, which has become a serious problem for authorities. Insiders said some of the militants were living like “kings” inside jails as they were exempted from lawful labor. Similarly, they had established their own rules and were even running their own kitchens. “These militants are not only terrorising other prisoners but have even made helpless the superintendents, deputies and assistant superintendents along with other officials. They are using mobile phones without fear or restriction and even receive items of their choice and need through visitors who are activists and stalwarts of militant groups,” the source said. A majority of the militants is now locked up in Peshawar Jail, their strength between 180 and 200. But the jail was already declared insecure after shifting of Dr Shakil Afridi. For the last one month, Peshawar Jail has been guarded by heavy contingents from all four sides.
The main Justice Kayani Road has also been closed for all sorts of traffic from dust to dawn. Officials in civil administration believe that these arrangements are aimed at avoiding attempts either for the escape or attack on Dr Shakil Afrdi. After Peshawar, the situation is worst in Haripur, where around 30 hardcore militants are being imprisoned. Amongst them is Adnan Rashid’s accomplice, Niaz Mohammad, who was shifted from Mansehra soon after the attack on Bannu Jail. The superintendent at Haripur is known for his helplessness before militants. The situation in Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat jails is also not rosy, where a large number of militants are being housed.
This is what you get when you have a foreigner, rehman malik, run the security affairs of the country. When you put totally incompetent people incharge, like ppp has done, this is what you get.
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