HARIPUR, June 15: Owing to the mounting pressure from the relatives of over 300 detained alleged Pakistani Taliban the federal government, after the completion of the detainees’ interrogation through different intelligence agencies, has started shifting them to the prisons near to their native cities or provinces, reliable sources told Dawn here on Saturday.
According to informed sources out of 353, 104 persons had so far been shifted to different jails of Punjab and 10 to South Waziristan Agency, where they were expected to be tried in the court of law.
“A complete report of every individual has been sent to the provincial high-ups for onward submission to the federal government for seeking final advice”, said a source who remained in touch with the entire process of investigation.
It may be recalled that as many as 404 Pakistani Taliban, belonging to Deer, Swat, Bajur, AJK, Multan, Bhawalpur and some hilly areas of NWFP, were shifted to Haripur jail during November and December last in groups when they were arrested from the Pakistan-Afghan border while crossing into Pakistan allegedly, the time when US-led coalitions operation — “War against Terror” was at its peak in October last.
Out of these detained persons 353, including some Afghan nationals were kept in Haripur jail and remaining were sent back to Peshawar jail.
These prisoners who were reportedly detained under 16 MPO had some times back condemned the attitude of jail authorities and the government through letters.
They had threatened to go on hunger strike but the jail authorities managed to pacify them.
The detention of these jihadis was also challenged in the PHC through two identical habeas corpus petitions which were dismissed by a bench recently.
Sources said that the personnel of ISI, MI, IB, special branch and probably FBI frequently visited Haripur jail during the last two weeks and quizzed every detainee individually regarding his family background, marital status, politico-religious affiliations, names of jihadi groups which tempted him into joining jihadi outfit and who facilitated training and entry into Afghanistan after 9/11.
