KARACHI: A model court has convicted two officials of the Malir district jail, including a doctor, of killing an ailing undertrial prisoner by not providing him adequate medical treatment to him.

However, the court acquitted assistant jail superintendent Naseem Ahmed, in charge of medicines distribution Muhammad Asif, in charge of prisoners’ ward Nasrullah and in charge of inside ward Muhammad Umair for lack of evidence.

Senior prison administration, medical officers and staffers were charged with causing the death of inmate Sagheer Ahmed by administering him wrong injection inside the Malir district prison on the night between June 21 and 22, 2019.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Naveed Ahmed Soomro of the Model Criminal Trial Court (Malir) pronounced his verdict reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

Model Court orders arrest of accused for want of diyat money

The judge noted that inmate Ahmed died due to a septic shock, which was the result of an injury in his left shoulder.

He noted that the prime charge against the accused persons was committing Qatl-e-Bis-Sabab (manslaughter) punishable under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The judge convicted prison’s medical officer Dr Noor Ahmed and dispenser Muhammad Haneef of manslaughter.

The court ordered the convicts to pay Rs500,000 each to the legal heirs of the deceased. On default, they would have to undergo one-month imprisonment each.

“Since, the offence is only punishable with diyat, they are taken into custody for want of diyat amount, which shall be paid to the legal heirs of the deceased,” ruled the judge.

According to the prosecution, complainant Muhammad Sharif alleged that his son Sagheer Ahmed, who was confined in the Malir jail, was subjected to severe torture and killed by the jail administration, medical officers and staffers.

He stated that accused Umair and Mohammad Asif had maltreated, injured and killed his son, who had died due to administration of incorrect injection after maltreatment.

He also stated that the prisoner had died due to negligence on the part of Dr Noor Ahmed, dispenser Muhammad Haneef, assistant jail superintendent Naseem Ahmed and in charge prisoners’ ward Nasrullah.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 322 (manslaughter), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Shah Latif Town police station.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2022