FAISALABAD, Sept 9: Scores of central jail inmates observed a strike on Sunday against the detention of some of the prisoners in separate cells and threatened the staff with hunger strike if their demands were not met, sources said.

The inmates started strike at 8am amid chants against the staff for detaining some prisoners, including Muzamil Shah and Mukhtar, most of them drug pushers, in separate cells. They demanded that a high official hold talks with them. Sources said Headquarters DIG (prisons) Abdul Sattar Aajiz visited the jail and met the prisoners.

They complained that Deputy Superintendent Javed Dilawar and Chief Warden Shan Muhammad tortured them and put them in separate cells. They demanded banning the entrance of both officers to barracks. Sources said Mr Aajiz accepted their demands. Sources say the prisoners detained in separate cells used to provoke other prisoners for protest. A subordinate of Jail Superintendent Malik Mushtaq said his boss too busy to give his version over the development. — Staff Correspondent