LAHORE: Many PML-N MPAs on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration outside the Camp Jail after the Punjab government refused to allow them to inspect the prison.

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah is on judicial remand in the Camp Jail and he had complained of providing contaminated drinking water by the jail authorities besides other poor facilities for the prisoners there.

More than a dozen MPAs reached the jail on Wednesday morning and told the authorities to allow them to inspect the jail as under the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges Act 1972 the lawmakers had privilege to inspect prisons and they did not need formal permission from the government. However, the jail authorities denied them entry, asking them to show permission letter from the Punjab government.

The MPAs including Samiullah Khan, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Yasin Sohal, Saba Sadiq and Rahila Khadim Hussain staged the demonstration outside the jail and chanted ‘Go Niazi Go’ slogan. A policeman pushed Samiullah Khan when he argued with him over the matter.

Yasin Sohal told reporters that the MPAs were not allowed to inspect the camp jail in violation of the law. He said the PML-N would move a privilege motion against the IG Prisons and other officials. He said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar stopped them from inspecting the prison on the order of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Earlier, the 28 PML-N MPAs from Lahore had written a letter to the home secretary requesting him to allow them to inspect the camp jail after they received complaints.

In a letter to the Punjab government, the 28 lawmakers said they wanted to inspect the camp jail on July 17 under section 18 of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges Act 1972. According to this Act, “... a member of provincial assembly of Punjab shall be authorised to inspect the jails falling in the district of his/her constituency within office hours.”

The letter further said it had come to their (MPAs) knowledge that prisoners in the jail did not have access to basic facilities such as clean drinking water. “Electricity supply is often suspended for long hours without any alternate arrangement. Basic medical facilities are also being denied to prisoners. Hence this visit is necessary and may please be facilitated under section 18 of the Punjab Assembly of the Punjab Privileges Act 1972,” the letter said.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2019