KARACHI: In order to control overcrowding in the jail, the Karachi jail administration transferred as many as 72 prisoners to other jails in interior Sindh and Punjab.
The majority was shifted to Sukkur and Larkana central jails, while two of the 72 prisoners were moved to Punjab.
The move comes after the escape of two under-trial hardcore prisoners, Sheikh Muhammad alias Firon and Ahmed Khan alias Manako in June this year.
Sind Prisons Inspector-General Nusrat Mangan said that the prisoners shifted to other jails were ordinary prisoners and the decision was taken due to overcrowding.
“Only ordinary prisoners were transferred,” he said, claiming that no terrorist was being transferred with those prisoners.
On the other hand, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar claimed that these prisoners have been acquitted or bailed out in Karachi’s courts and now their cases are on trial in other jails.
“[That’s why] we shifted them to areas near the respective courts,” he said.
Central Jail Karachi is housing around 6,000 inmates – twice more than its capacity. Moreover, there are 380 staffers, including officials and guards, who are also temporarily supported by three platoons of the Frontier Constabulary, each having around 40 to 45 personnel, as well as 50 Rangers personnel.
