VEHARI, July 26: Judicial magistrate Abdur Rehman Bodla who is conducting judicial inquiry into alleged stitching of lips of a prisoner by police completed recording of statements by witnesses on Tuesday.

After completing recording of statements, the inquiry officer also heard arguments of some advocates, including Ehtashamul Haq Siddiqui and Lubna Ehtasham, who sought action against those found responsible in the alleged incident to avoid chances of repetition of such incidents in future.

Dr Abdul Waheed Siddiqui of New Central Jail, Multan, assistant superintendent Ali Akbar recorded statements regarding the June 23 incident of lip stitching and torture of prisoner Muhammad Husain alias Sabir Shah by police.

Dr Siddiqui said he saw three stitches on prisoner’s lips when he was taking a round on the morning of June 24. The stitches were removed under his supervision by dispenser Muhammad Sharif and the process did not cause bleeding.

Jail officer Ali Akbar said he saw the prisoner lying in the room of a jail constable with two ‘artificial’ stitches on his lips.

He said the prisoner had stitched his lips on his own and that he had then counselled the prisoner that it was not a good act. He claimed that the prisoner had told him that he himself had stitched his lips in protest.—APP