DERA ISMAIL KHAN: About 18 inmates of Central Jail Dera Ismail Khan belonging to Khyber district have gone on hunger strike, family sources claim.

In this regard, Amanullah, brother of one of the inmates Mohammad Hussain, told Dawn that the prisoners, arrested in drugs cases, had been on hunger strike for the last four days. They have been demanding that they should be transferred to Kohat jail for court appearance.

He said the accused persons were earlier taken to the local courts but they were not produced before the judge by police.

”After that, on the decision of the high court, the drug cases were transferred to the Kohat special court but still the accused were not produced in the court,” he alleged.

He further alleged that the jail authorities said that they did not have funds for the accused to be taken to Kohat for appearance in the special court. He said the hunger strikers demand that they should be transferred to Kohat jail or presented in a DI Khan court.

When contacted, jail superintendent Samiullah Shinwari told Dawn that these were just rumours and had nothing to do with reality. Denying the allegations, he said none of the inmates was on hunger strike.Meanwhile, a man was killed and another got injuries when a truck plunged into a ravine here in Srey-Khawrey area of Darazinda subdivision on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesman, a ghee-loaded truck coming from Quetta skidded off the road and fell into a ravine. As a result, 30-year old Rauf of Landi Kotal was killed and 30-year old Malik Sher got injuries.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024