RAWALPINDI: The four-member committee formed by the Punjab chief minister to investigate Adiala jail has recommended criminal proceedings against 11 jail guards and departmental action against jail superintendent and deputy jail superintendent.

The committee, headed by Commissioner Zahid Saeed with additional secretary Punjab home department, inspector general prison and city police officer Rawalpindi its members, submitted its report on Saturday and found the official negligent in their duties.

The incident in which a prison guard shot and injured a blasphemy convict, a British national, took place on Thursday.

The committee also recommended to improve the security of three other accused of blasphemy detained in Adiala jail and asked the jail authorities to shift them to a separate cell.

Taking notice of increased radicalisation within the force, the committee also recommended seeking psychiatrist help. It also urged the government to scrutinize the guards detailed in and around jails and VIP duties to avoid repetition of such incidents.

In its report, the committee held 13 jail officials responsible for allowing the guard, Mohammad Yousaf, enter the jail premises after duty timing.

The committee found many jail officials absent from the duty and those were on duty let the guard enter the jail without security check.

The incident proved that the policemen deployed on the jail premises needed combat training as they failed to overpower Yousaf before his action.

When contacted, Commissioner Zahid Saeed who headed the committee told Dawn that the committee had sent its report to the Punjab Home Department and held 13 people directly or indirectly involved in the case.

“The incident occurred due to the negligence of the administration of the jail,” he said.

“The jail officials will face criminal proceedings for their negligence and two of them will face departmental action as they were not directly involved in the case,” he said.

He said video footages from Close Circuit TV (CCTV) Cameras showed several guards were not present on their duties. However, during their interviews to committee they said that they were on duty, he said.

“Mohammad Yousaf entered the jail while hiding his unlicenced pistol and dragger in his long boots. He told the guards at gate No.1 that he was going to get the keys of his motorcycle and the guards allowed him to enter without any physical search.

“He also entered the cell where the victim was staying on the plea that he had to get advice for his toothache from an Indian inmate,” he said.

“It also recommended checking the mental situation of the officials twice in a year,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 28th , 2014