GUJRAT: The Punjab government has suspended two senior officials of Gujrat district Jail -- superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum and deputy superintendent Sarmad Hassan -- on charges of corruption, misconduct, inefficiency and negligence.

According to the notification issued by the additional chief secretary (home), the officials have been suspended for at least 90 days and disciplinary proceedings ordered against them under section 6 of Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2018.

The [suspended] officials have been directed to report to the inspectorate of prisons, Lahore.

The Punjab government has handed over the look-after charge of Gujrat jail superintendent to Malik Liaqat Ali currently serving as additional superintendent of Gujranwala jail whereas deputy superintendent of Jhelum [jail] Malil Babar Ali will work as deputy superintendent [Gujrat prison] on look-after basis.

Earlier, six warders had also been suspended by the provincial government following an incident of riot on July 2 when inmates staged a protest demonstration against the jail administration following a clash with some prison officials.

Police had lodged a case against nine jail officials of Gujrat jail including its superintendent, his deputy, an assistant superintendent and six warders as well as five inmates on multiple charges on the report of Attaur Rehman, another deputy superintendent.

However, all the nine [nominated] officials had been granted bail before arrest from a local court until July 18.

Sources said the action had been taken in the light of an initial inquiry conducted by the Gujrat district administration and senior hierarchy of prisons department.

They said it had been recommended to appoint some dedicated officers in the administration of Gujrat jail as regular incumbents so that the situation could not arise again.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2020