SAHIWAL: One hundred warders of the High Security Prison (HSP) called off their 18 hours strike over mass transfers and resumed duty on Tuesday morning.

Sahiwal Prison Range DIG Kamran Anjum told Dawn that a professional and legal approach was adopted in resolving the issue. Sources said DC Muhammad Zaman Wattoo and DPO Muhammad Ali Zia also played an important role in ending the strike besides the prisons department officials from other regions.

It is learnt that in the final settlement, some 100 warders were transferred to their home regions and were given four days to report at their new position of posting.

DC Muhammad Zaman told Dawn that a special request was sent to Punjab Prisons IG Mirza Shahid for transferring warders to their home regions. Sources said the warders had accepted the settlement.

100 warders transferred to home region

The warders went on strike on Monday to protest the transfer of 50 of their colleagues. They said the step had been taken as a “punitive measure” for raising a voice for their rights and going public with their protest as they had blocked the College Chowk some two weeks ago.

The standoff continued as warders were not ready to accept the transfer orders. They were of the view their transfer should be done in their home districts or home regions. They argued how a BS -7 employee could go to Attock, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Shahpur etc.

A source close to the situation told Dawn that the prison department high-ups had accepted demands and transferred 100 warders with an assurance that no further punitive action would be taken against them. The department also agreed that previous show cause notices to 50 warders would also be withdrawn.

It was also agreed that the office of the HSP Deputy Superintendent would withdraw an application filed against warders for registration of case under 16 MPO presently lying with the Civil Lines Police Station, Sahiwal.

The DC confirmed that the Prisons IG office had given an assurance to honour agreement between the warders and HSP administration. This correspondent talked to some warders who said they had accepted “mutual decision” but had some apprehensions regarding some punitive action in future.

Prisons DIG Kamran Anjum said that issues with inmates on hunger strike had also been resolved. He said a committee had been formed to look into inmates’ complaints.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2019