SAHIWAL: Around two dozen contract sanitary workers of the High Security Prison (HSP) staged a sit-in in front of the Commissioner Office on the second consecutive day on Wednesday to protest against the working conditions.

Carrying banners and placards, they spoke against “harsh working conditions” of prison and other issues.

Jail official Mr Athar met sanitary workers and assured them that their problems would be solved. But sanitary workers refused to accept his oral assurance and demanded a written agreement between the security prison higher-ups and their representatives.

The country’s first High Security Prison was established in Sahiwal in 2015. Developed over 98 acre, it cost Rs930.206 million and has the capacity to house 1,044 prisoners involved in high-profile cases. The facility started its operation this year and more than 60 sanitary workers have been employed on a three-year contract.

Some of the protesters told this correspondent that they have three main issues.

“We have not been allowed weekly holiday on Sunday; in emergency our leave is not considered; and if any worker remains absent for a day, the authorities mark four-day absence in attendance sheet.”

“The jail superintendent has adopted derogatory attitude towards the sanitary workers,” a protester alleged.

Another worker said a few days back his mother died and he sought four-day leave but officials turned down his request. “Having no option but to remain absent for four days, I joined my work and found that 17 absence marks had been placed in my register,” he claimed.

This correspondent also talked to the protesting women who, along with their children, had come to the Commissioner Office to complain about what they said harsh and derogatory attitude of Jail Deputy Superintendent Amaar Ahmed.

A protester alleged that Ammar uses abusive language and is responsible for wrong entries in the attendance register. She said they had been protesting here for the last two days but no official had come to even listen to their grievances.

Mr Athar came for negotiation on Wednesday but the workers demanded a written agreement. They dispersed after a couple of hours demanding that the IG prison intervene and ensure provision of facilities to the workers.

Jail Superintendent Naveed Ashraf did not respond to calls this correspondent made to him to learn about his stance. An official, however, quoted him as saying “the matter has been resolved”.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2016