SHEIKHUPURA: The district jail has been facing an acute shortage of medicines for prisoners.

Citizens Welfare Society Chairman Sheikh Masood Ahmad quoting a number of prisoners who were released after serving punishment, told the media here on Thursday.

He said the prisoners during a meeting told him that even simple medicines -- cough syrup and pain killers -- were not available in the jail.

He quoted them as saying that a number of prisoners had contracted different diseases and provided with no treatment.

The chairman said: “I think funds provided by the government for the treatment of prisoners have allegedly been embezzled.”

He said during visits of judges to the prison, jail authorities used to keep medicines on tables. “And after visits medicine disappear.”

He urged human rights organisations and philanthropists to come forward and arrange medicine for prisoners.

He also demanded an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds allocated for purchase of medicines.

SI HELD: An anti-corruption establishment team led by the judicial magistrate on Thursday caught a police sub-inspector red-handed while allegedly receiving bribe at a local restaurant.

Factory Area SI Sohail Rana had demanded amount from a citizen, Idrees, in connection with a case. Mr Idrees informed the ACE and a team caught the police official red-handed and recovered the indicated currency notes from his custody. Further investigation is under way.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2016