RAWALPINDI: Serious concerns have emerged about security at Adiala jail, of the most sensitive prisons in the country, as several loopholes have been identified by security officials making the prison vulnerable to attacks by terror groups. The prison houses 4,849 inmates, of which 50 are convicted for their involvement in suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. Nine of the 50 convicted terrorists are death row prisoners awaiting decisions on mercy appeals in higher courts.

Following the lifting of moratorium on death sentence by the government and subsequent hanging of terrorists in Faisalabad district jail, the possibility of a terrorist attack on Central Jail Adiala was a dangerous and likely possibility.

The most recent report sent by the Special Branch to the Punjab Home Department clearly highlights the jail’s vulnerability to attack.

Overcrowded prison houses 50 convicted terrorists, 9 of whom are on death row

According to the report, the jail is facing a serious shortage of security staff with three chief wardens, 33 head wardens and 609 jail wardens guarding 4,849 inmates. Although the army and Rangers personnel also guard the outer boundary walls of the jail and patrol the area, the height of the boundary wall was seen as being too low and declared ‘dangerous’. The wall also does not have an electric fence running on the top.

The report also raised concerns about the negligence by police deployed at checkposts around the jail with staff seen playing cards and reading newspapers on duty.

Furthermore, the report notes that frequent power cuts, as long as three hours, meant that the batteries of mobile phone jammers also collapsed. During this time, prisoners have the opportunity to make contact with those outside the jail posing a serious threat to security. The report suggests that alternative arrangements should be made to keep mobile phone jammers functional during power cuts and a complete survey of residents of the areas surrounding the jail should be carried out.

 The report also cited an incident at the jail in which an aged British citizen, Asghar Kazab, convicted of blasphemy was shot and injured by a prison guard on September 25, 2014.

The report suggested that special clearance for jail staff must be acquired before they are deployed especially those guarding prisoners involved in terrorism.

It pointed out that cars of lawyers entering the jail are not searched and it was suggested that this should be rectified immediately. Similarly, influential people enter the jail through gate number five and their cars are also not searched even when the windows are tinted. This means that weapons and other illegal items can enter the jail premises undetected.

Food items and other goods brought by relatives visiting inmates are not checked at the jail entrance and once inside the building they are run through a metal detector.

The report pointed out that explosives can detonate between the time they are brought into the premises and the time that they are detected by the scanner.

With the large number of convicted and under-trial terrorists being housed in an already overcrowded jail, the chances of attacks like at Bannu jail and Manawa Centre in Lahore cannot be ruled out.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play