HYDERABAD HAFEEZ SHAIKH) – A prisoner was killed and seven others were wounded when police opened fire on them in order to free 15 jail wardens held hostage by the inmates in Hyderabad on Friday.
According to reports, prisoners at Hyderabad Central Jail started clashing against the non-provision of facilities and held 15 policemen hostage. The police opened fire to disperse the rioting inmates, leaving one prisoner, Zahid s/o Karim Bakhsh dead. The police meanwhile managed to free the hostages and took control of the jail. According to SSP Haseeb Afzal, more than 50 prisoners were involved in the clashes.
The law enforcement agencies brought the situation under control at the Central Jail Hyderabad after prisoners took 15 personnel hostage in a failed jailbreak attempt, he added. DG Jails, Gulzar Channa said that high profile inmates including accused in Daniel Pearl case are present in the jail and the action was taken as there was fear of jailbreak. Hyderabad Jail is considered one of the most sensitive points where dangerous prisoners particularly hailing from Al-Qaida are barred behind bars. This is not the first time an incident like this has taken place. In fact, countless protests have been reported in different district jails in recent years. The conditions of jails in Pakistan are deplorable, housing many more than their capacity. Prisoners are deprived of even the basic amenities.
Meanwhile in Naushero Feroz, additional Sessions Judge Kandiaro Justice Nasiruddin Shah handed capital sentence to three accused in a murder case.
Accused Muhammad Ishaq Channa, Muhammad Essa Channa and Ghulam Haider Channa had murdered their brother-in-law Zahid Hussain Channa in 2005.
The convicts would also pay a fine of Rs100,000 each and in case of non-payment undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months.