KARACHI, Jan 2: Twenty-two sticks of hashish were found in the abdomen of an undertrial prisoner during a medical examination at the Civil Hospital Karachi on Monday, doctors and police officials said. The 35-year-old undertrial, Faisal Maqbool, was given a purgative and being kept under observation at the hospital, said senior medico-legal officer of the hospital Dr Aftab Channar.

“If this does not work, he will have to undergo a minor surgery.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Maqbool complained that he was feeling unwell. Subsequently, the jail authorities brought him to the hospital where multiple tests, including an X-ray exam, were conducted. The doctors said that the UTP was found carrying 22 charas sticks.

“He told the doctors that he had swallowed all the 22 charas sticks on Dec 30,” the MLO said.

“On further inquiry, it emerged that he was provided charas sticks by a visitor at the city courts where he was brought in connection with an armed robbery case a couple of days ago.” A senior official of the court police said the suspect along with his associates had been arrested after a shoot-out in September. He was booked in an armed robbery case in the Tariq Road area within the remit of the Ferozabad police station, he added.—Staff Reporter