PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet after reviewing inquiry report of Bannu Jail attack by militants which ensued in escape of 384 prisoners including some hardened terrorists, has declared it as a failure of civil administration of Bannu, political administration of North Waziristan, Police and Frontier Constabulary (FC).
The cabinet met here on Wednesday for its special meeting on Bannu Jail break, said Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain while briefing media representatives about the decisions.
The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti, has taken a decision in principle to initiate disciplinary action against all those officials of concerned departments.
The cabinet approved to make all the officials of provincial and federal government as OSD (Office on Special Duty) from Wednesday (May 16) and from tomorrow they will be suspended to face inquiry.
The services of officials belonging to center will be relieved with note that they are not fit for such type of jobs and their future postings should be made while keeping their record in mind.
Whereas, those officials who belong to provincial government will face suspension from Thursday and during suspension they will be served with Show Cause Notice for lapse.
Mian Iftikhar said all those police officials who were performing duty on check posts set up on road that leads tribal area to Bannu jail are also suspended.
Similarly, officials of Home department, especially one identified as Muhammad Ghulam, Section Officer who issued NOC for shifting of convicted terrorist, Adnan Rashid from Punjab to Bannu without getting permission from high ups, are also suspended.
Mian Iftikhar said the cabinet agreed with the report of inquiry committee that intelligence agencies including Special Branch failed in giving proper information about the incident. He said a report about possible attack was given by intelligence agencies around four months earlier, but no follow up was made.
Similarly, he continued, the officials performing duty at control rooms of DCO, Commissioner were also found very irresponsible because they didn’t informed the high ups at proper time.
Mian Iftikhar said army is also performing duty in the district and responsibility on failure of attack also lies on them which is being properly investigated by the high ups of armed force. In the apex committee meeting, it was decided that army will also hold proper investigation into the incident and fix responsibility, he added.
In reply to a question, Mian Iftikhar said Punjab government should also hold investigation over shifting of terrorist Adnan Rashid from Rawalpindi to Bannu as according to rules shifting of convicted prisoners in murder cases from one province to another is strictly prohibited.
While answering another question, Information Minister said among the 384 prisoners who escaped after the attack 21 were convicted in murder cases and three were hardened terrorists including Adnan Rashid.
Mian Iftikhar said the chief minister has demanded completion of inquiry into the incident within 20 days. He said during suspension all the officials will be served show cause notices and inquiry will be proceeded to find out those who are responsible for the incident.
After completion of inquiry, those officials who were found not directly involved in the incident will be restored through the courts, he concluded.