In November last year, Business Recorder by highlighting the illegality and alleged apathy of the authorities concerned had also carried a news report in this regard titled "Prisons department's senior officers flout rules by wearing uniform". According to chapter-48 of the Pakistan Prisons Rules 1978, the official uniforms were recommended only for the superintendents, deputy superintendents, assistant superintendents and warders of the jails. A brief study of the rules suggested that the government had never recommended any formal dress for the executive slots of the Punjab Prison Department.
Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that many officials of the Kot Lakhpat Jail were surprised when they saw the Prison's chief and the DIG committing a violation of the Prisons Rules.
According to the pictures of the IG and DIG, both the officers along with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar can be seen praying after the inauguration of a technical training institute for women at the Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday. The pictures of the event are available with Business Recorder. An official of the jail said that around 30 people incarcerated in petty crimes were released after the ceremony.
"It is very unfortunate that the chief and other senior officers of the Prison department are committing such violations," the sources regretted. They questioned how junior officers would follow the discipline if the senior officers including the chief are setting a bad precedent.
They further said that the act of both the senior officers falls under the definition of Section 419 (punishment for cheating by impersonation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). "Whoever cheats by personating shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both," the punishment reads.
"It is a serious offence/crime which comes under the definition of impersonation," the sources said, adding that IG Shahid is a grade-20 officer but he is wearing the uniform of grade-22.
Surprisingly, the sources claimed that all the executives, including the IG Prisons, are getting monthly dress allowances from the provincial government for wearing civil dress. The IG and all other high ranking officials are "fully aware" about this violation but they wear their uniforms on various occasions just to show off their influence, they added.
When contacted, Special Secretary Home Tariq Javed said he was not aware of this illegality being committed by all senior officers of the Punjab Prisons. He assured of taking an appropriate action in this regard. Repeated calls were made by this scribe to contact Punjab Minister for Prisons Zawar Hussain for his official version but he could not be contacted. However, the minister's Public Relation Officer Amir Rauf Khuwaja claimed that all out efforts will be made for the supremacy of the law.
Earlier, the incumbent IG had visited Azad Kashmir regiment and district jail Sialkot for annual inspection by wearing his 'illegal' uniform. Also, the Facebook account of Shahid Saleem carries his picture in police uniforms in violation of the Pakistan Prisons Rules, 1978.