Pubdate: Wed, 30 Nov 2005
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893
Author: Aayan Ali

DRUG 'BUSINESS' IN JAILS CANNOT BE STOPPED: IG

* Says Very Few Officials Involved In Drug Trafficking * 'convict
Officers' Still Working For Jail Administrations

LAHORE: Drug supply to criminals in jails can be checked, but not
eliminated, Prisons Inspector General Sarfraz Ahmad Mufti told Daily
Times on Tuesday.

The IG said drug addicts and peddlers were kept in separate cells, but
despite stringent measures they manage to bring to jails the drugs
they get from their accomplices, friends or relatives when they go for
court hearings and share these drugs with other inmates.

To a question about the involvement of lower jail staff in the drug
selling, the IG said very few were involved in the malpractice and
such officials were dismissed immediately and cases were registered
against them.

Police take prisoners to courts for hearings and clear them after a
'thorough search', while the jail staff also accepts them after a
complete search, but they don't seem to 'find' drugs on them.

Jail sources said that lower cadre jail staffers offered 'services' to
prisoners. A prisoner released from Kot Lakhpat Jail a few months ago
said, "If a person has money it is much easier to get drugs in jail
than in the open".

Prohibited articles like steel cutters, hooks, ropes, scissors and
glass items have been seized from prisoners during a special search by
DIGs of all regions in recent months. The IG said that stern action
would be taken against the jail staff if the prohibited articles were
seized from prisoners in future.

To a question about security risks in jails, Mufti said that in the
past jail gates were opened for visitors without their identification,
walkthrough gates were closed at night, officials on night duty were
absent, control rooms were not functioning properly, wireless
communication systems were not working, close circuit television
(CCTV) monitors were installed at offices rather than at control
rooms, emergency lights were not working and fire fighting
equipment/gas cylinders had expired. He added that jail registers were
not being maintained, wardens were absent from duty and lighting
arrangements were inadequate. But these issues had been taken care of,
the IG said.

In the past, jail administrations used to chose 'convict officers
(COs)' from prisoners to keep an eye on other prisoners. The COs were
considered government servants under the now defunct Pakistan Prisons
Rules. The system collapsed many years ago after reports of cruelty by
COs, but the practice still prevails in Punjab jails
unofficially.

It has been learnt that jail officials select prisoners for spying on
their inmates and give them privileges in return. Sarfraz Mufti said
that complaints were received in this regard, but now this practice
had been eliminated.

Although the IG has told jail staff to treat prisoners humanely, when
they inspect prisoners for entry to jails they tell them to take off
their shoes and sit on the ground. Prison administrations said that
law offenders should not be asked to sit because they laugh at the
staff standing beside them.

Field officers were not punctual and the practice was causing
inconvenience to people who came for queries or to see their relatives
in jail. Sarfraz Mufti said that now all senior and junior staff were
coming to office on time. 
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