GUJRANWALA, June 19: The federal government has approved construction of seven new jails in Punjab and Sindh besides separate barracks for dangerous criminals and terrorists.
A source told Dawn here on Sunday that the federal government had convened a meeting of home secretaries of four provinces in Islamabad some few days back and got information about overcrowding in jails.
The source said five new jails would be constructed in Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Narowal, Hafizabad, Okara and two in south and north Karachi. He said a new jail in Gujranwala would be constructed on Alipur Road as the government had already acquired 104 acres to this effect.
He said inmates from other prisons and dangerous criminals would be shifted to the new jail to reduce overcrowding at the central jail.
The jail authorities have visited the new site and sent its feasibility report to the provincial government.
KILLED: A man and his six-month-old son were shot dead by their rivals over murder enmity in Qila Dedar Singh on Sunday.
Reports said Muhammad Aslam was asleep at his house when Shahbaz, Hanif, Sabir and Khalid came and shot him dead along with his son Ali Haider.
Police have registered a double-murder case and are investigating.
Over two dozens people have been killed so far over enmity between the two groups, led by Aslam and Faisal Malhi.