Karachi, Oct 27 (TNS): The Landhi Jail superintendent was on Saturday suspended on the instructions of Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar after the top judge found during a surprise visit to the penitentiary that Shahrukh Jatoi — the main accused in the 2012 Shahzeb murder case — had been accorded extraordinary facilities in a C-class jail.
The chief justice, after hearing a slew of cases at the Supreme Court Karachi registry today, visited Landhi Jail where he also stopped by Jatoi’s cell.
Upon witnessing the facilities granted to Jatoi — which, from a recording of the visit, seem to include a large flat-screen TV — the top judge was considerably irked. He immediately ordered that Jatoi be transferred to a death row cell and instructed the IG Prisons to submit a report on why he had been given preferential treatment.
“On what basis and law is a murder accused being given this many facilities,” Justice Nisar asked as he also ordered an investigation to identify those responsible.
Later on, acting IG Prisons Qazi Nazir appeared in the SC registry on the CJP’s orders. “Go to the jail immediately and take action against those responsible,” the judge told him.
Jatoi is one of the accused in the 2012 murder of Shahzeb Khan — a tragedy that had sparked nationwide outrage and triggered debate over if people of influence will ever be held accountable for their actions.
