KARACHI, Aug 8: Under-trial prisoner Salman Pervaiz, who is being held in the Central Prison, has accused jailer Mohammed Hassan Saheto of forcing him to pay a bribe of Rs50,000 and claims that he has already had to hand over Rs18,000. In an appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Salman Pervaiz – who is also known as Salman Haider – stated that the jailer has put him in a closed ward and is issuing life threats in case he fails to pay up.

Pervaiz told reporters at the City Courts that “Saheto has warned me to pay otherwise I will meet the same end as Shoaib Khan and Hassan Gichki.” The prisoner said that in response to his complaints to a member inspection team (MIT) in the Sindh High Court (complaints no. 4362/07 and 4383/07), the jailer threatened him with dire consequences if the grievances were repeated. He alleged that Saheto also tried to intimidate him by threatening to transfer him to a jail where he would not be allowed to meet his wife and children.

“I complained to the MIT again and as a result, Deputy Inspector General Police Tariq Shah was asked to look into the matter. He obtained my affidavit but instead of action being taken against the jailer, my life has been made more miserable,” said the UTP, claiming that both the DIG and the MIT were informed that the jailer had already taken Rs18,000 and was demanding a further Rs32,000.

UTP 4204/2004 Salman Pervaiz, son of Pervaiz Mirza, told reporters that he is the only earning member of his family, comprising his wife and two children. Implicated in five murder cases, he said that three cases have been decided in his favour while the last two are in their final stages.

“If any harm comes to me, the entire responsibility will rest on Mohammed Hassan Saheto,” said Pervaiz.

Upon being contacted by Dawn, the jailer termed the allegations “baseless” and stated that he had neither taken nor demanded bribes from the UTP. “He is a very dangerous man and I fear for my own life,” said Saheto.