RAWALPINDI: Three under-trial prisoners (UTP) have been assigned the same barrack in Adiala Jail as the supermodel Ayyan Ali allegedly to protect her against other prisoners and even herself.
According to sources at the jail, the prison department officials fear threats to the model’s life so three other women UTPs have been assigned the same barrack as her to provide her company and protection.
Read: A room with a charpoy — Ayyan's days in Adiala jail
Ms Ali has been languishing in a separate room at the women UTP’s barracks at Adiala Jail. In March, customs officials at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport detained her for attempting to smuggle a large amount of foreign currency out of the country.
According to jail sources, the supermodel and her companions have been allowed to cook their own meals as she does not like the food served at the jail.
Also read: LHC rejects Ayyan Ali's bail plea in money laundering case
A senior official of the prison department, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that Ms Ali’s is a high profile case which has received a lot of negative media attention.
Three women prisoners assigned to Ms Ali’s cell for ‘her protection’
He said that in such cases there may be serious threats to the life of the prisoner.
The official further said that Ms Ali appears to be distressed and jail authorities fear she may even attempt suicide.
Also read: Zardari laundered money through Ayyan: Zulfiqar Mirza
“We want to safeguard her life until the conclusion of the case. To reduce her isolation and ensure her safety, jail authorities had been asked to beef up security around her and provide her with women companions,” he said.
The official said Ms Ali has been warned against taking any edibles from other prisoners and whenever she is given something to eat, it is thoroughly checked.
Like other prisoners at the jail, Ayyan Ali is allowed to buy items such as mineral water, boxed juices and biscuits from the jail canteen. As prisoners are not allowed to keep cash, like other prisoners, an account called P.P Account was opened at the jail for her.
On Friday, Ms Ali will appear before the judge at a special trial court amid tight security. According to sources, a large number of police officials offered to be a part of the team escorting the prison van carrying Ms Ali from Adiala Jail to court. An official told Dawn, police officials are volunteering their services in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Adiala’s celebrity prisoner.
The official said some policemen are trying to cajole the Moharar (official who assigns duties) into assigning them the duty of accompanying the supermodel to court by offering dinners at fast food chains and even cash of up to Rs 4000.
When the Prison Deputy Inspector General Shahid Saleem Baig was contacted, he admitted that three other inmates have been housed in Ayyan Ali’s barrack to protect her but he refused to comment further.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015
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