February 24, 2006	Friday	Muharram 25, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench has asked the inspector-general jails (Punjab) to submit reply with regard to severe injuries allegedly inflicted on a prisoner serving death sentence after he refused to pay bribes to the officials of the Adiala Jail.

The father of the prisoner filed a petition against the superintendent of Adiala Jail, alleging that the jail authorities had asked his son Sabir Butt to pay them Rs10,000 per month. When the latter refused to pay the money, he was attacked through other prisoners.

According to the medical board report, Sabir Butt was subjected to severe injuries on different parts of his body. The petitioner demanded that a case be filed against the jail authorities.

On the other hand, the jail authorities contended that the prisoner had himself inflicted the injuries on his body.

Justice Omar Atta Bandyal, after hearing the preliminary arguments, asked the inspector-general jails to submit comments.

Justice Bandyal said it would also be ascertained as to why the prisoner had inflicted injuries on his body and how instruments like daggers and knives had come within his reach.

He said a judicial inquiry would be conducted to ascertain why human rights were violated in jails.