Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The scam of using foreign mobile phone sims in Adiala jail has come to light amid reports that hardened prisoners were active in running their own network inside the jail by greasing the palms of the corrupt officials of the prison.

According to jail sources law enforcement agencies have forwarded a detailed report to the interior ministry disclosing that hardened criminals who were involved in terror-related incidents, kidnapping for ransom and land mafia and were being kept in Adiala prison were pursuing their nefarious designs by paying millions of rupees as bribery monthly to the Jail Superintendent, SSP Saeed Gondal.

According to information available with Daily Times, contacts were being forged with highly notorious criminals outside the jail through WhatsApp, Internet and by using foreign cell phone sims.

It has been told about foreign sims that they work more effectively on satellite and roaming and were free. It has come to light that the criminals across the country are controlled from Adiala jail and other jails. The dangerous groups of gangsters in Punjab and Islamabad are being contacted from Adiala jail on a daily basis.

The report, issued by the law enforcement agencies, has worried the Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan and other authorities.

The interior ministry sources told Daily Times that the interior minister had issued a letter to the Government of Punjab recommending that stern action be immediately taken against high profile criminals in the province.

Sources said the interior minister had sought a report in respect of the Adiala Jail Superintendent Saeed Gondal and his other associates, besides summoning details of the case registered against Saeed Gondal. They are also involved in running illegal businesses of property and drug trafficking in Punjab and Islamabad.

On the report of intelligence agencies the IG Jails has taken a “fake” action in Adiala jail and seized the mobile phones, foreign sims and drugs to prove his efficiency but he has failed to take any action against influential jail authorities and those involved in heinous crimes. It is said that the share of the bribery goes to the IG Jails as well.

The interior ministry has expressed dissatisfaction over the “fake” action taken by the IG Jails. It has been learnt that the interior minister, on his return from a foreign tour, will himself monitor the operation to be conducted with the assistance of intelligence agencies for elimination of high profile criminals in order to dismantle the criminal network in the jail.

Sources said that not only a case was registered against Jail Superintendent SSP Saeed Ahmad Gondal in Rawalpindi in the past but he remained behind the bars in Adiala jail.

However he was transferred to Multan jail later and returned to Adiala jail soon by using his personal influence.