Army to train jail staff for better security

LAHORE: Pakistan Army will impart special three months training to jail staff of Punjab on modern lines for better security and effective use of ultra modern weapons to meet any eventuality.

Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Mian Farooq Nazeer told APP here Sunday that “ We are proud that jail staff is being trained by the Pakistan Army, the best one in the world”. He said that two batches of 1,000 each including 25 Assistant Superintendents of Prisons had already passed out while next two batches of same number will undergo compulsory training after Eid Ul Fitr. He said in view of the best performance in training, a cash prize of rupees 2,000 to each trainee warders, rupees 5,000 each to all Assistant Superintendents of Prisons, rupees 4,000 each to all Chief Warders, rupees 5,000 each to all officials imparted training and rupees 10,000 each to four best prize winners of the training.

He said that warders had already been provided modern weapons and ammunition and brand new double cabins for round the clock patrolling in and around the all sensitive prisons across the province. He said that newly trained staff has been deployed on patrolling duty. Mian Farooq said that Superintendent of Prisons, Ishtiaq Ahmad Gill was also playing key role in getting proper training to all trainee warders through in close liaison with Pakistan Army.

Camp Jail declared best: The historic, 85 years old Camp Jail, Lahore has been declared best in the Punjab in terms of quality of food, proper security coupled with better environment besides adequate protection to inmates. The District and Sessions Judges Lahore who visit prisons comprising 22 barracks at least once in a month regularly in their reports and remarks declared the cleanliness of the kitchen and the quality of food the best in the Punjab. Prisons Chief Mian Farooq Nazeer, DIG Lahore Range Mubashar Ahmad Khan and DIG HQ Mian Salik Jalal during their visits also appreciated the state of alertness, effective security measures besides provision of the best quality food to inmates in addition to slaughtering the chickens in jail premises in the presence of jail doctor and Jail Officer.

Superintendent Jail Shahram Tauqeer Khan has allowed desirous notable and elite of the town to come and see that healthy chicken was slaughtered in jail premises at 10 am and 5 pm daily six day in a week. Nearly 2,886 inmates were housed in the prisons against sanctioned strength of 1050 prisoners. All the incoming under trial prisoners irrespective of their social status along with their belongings were scanned properly through metal detectors and screening machines. Surprise research was also conducted at least twice in a month under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent Mahmood Fakhri and Assistant Superintendent concerned in all barracks for the recovery of cell-phones and narcotics.

Cell-phones were recovered during last three weeks and guilty prisoners were shifted to “Chaki” as a punishment for one month. It may be mentioned here that all inmates were being served the best quality filter water from the donated water filtration plant installed in prison. About the staff complaints, Shahram said that he daily attends the visitors and got installed an intercom at waiting room for direct contact with him, if any allegation proved then strict action was taken.