DERA GHAZI KHAN, Feb 16: As many as 85 prisoners, who were brought here on Wednesday for court proceedings, refused to enter the judicial lock-up as mark of their protest against the bad condition of the building.

Reports said 85 prisoners from various police stations and jails were brought for court proceeding, but they refused to enter the lock-up due to its dilapidated condition.

It is pertinent to mention that the lock-up was built at least 80 years ago and now its building had been declared dangerous. When contacted, the district police officer told Dawn that he had officially written to the authorities concerned for the establishment of the new building of the judicial lock-up because the present building was very dangerous.

The district and sessions judge was not available for comments. DCO Pervez Khusro Malik said he had already informed the provincial government and the Punjab IGP about the run-down condition of the lock-up. The proposal of the construction of a new building of lock-up had been sent to the provincial authorities concerned.