MULTAN: An inquiry committee constituted by the Punjab Inspector General of Prisons will visit the Multan Central Jail on Friday (today) to probe into charges of corruption, misuse of authority and extortion against 23 jail officials including former superintendent and his deputy.

The committee constituted on Feb 13 by IG Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig comprises Sargodha DIG Prisons Naveed Rauf as its convener while Faisalabad DIG Saeedullah Gondal, Sheikhupura District Jail Superintendent Chaudhary Asghar Ali, Okara Jail Superintendent Liaqat Ahmed Gill and Deputy Superintendent at Faisalabad Regional Office Shahzad Bukhari are its members.

The committee has been directed to submit is report within seven days. Earlier, a home department team led by Additional Director Capt retired Rana Mudassar Riaz had conducted an inquiry and recommended the suspension of 23 officials, including superintendent Jam Asif Iqbal and deputy superintendent Hafiz Qamarul Islam. The committee was constituted over some complaints of inmates.

The committee, in its report, observed the extortion of money was mode right from the outset. Inmates were forced to arrange money at each step of their detention.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020