As authorities spring into action after the recent Shahrukh Jatoi setback, further inquiry reveals that around 21 prisoners enjoyed freedom at private hospitals in Karachi.
To clarify, news broke that 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan’s murderer Shahrukh Jatoi lived in a private hospital for the last two years. His family rented the upper floor of Qamar-ul-Islam Hospital in Karachi. The imprisoned convict lived a normal life despite the conviction in a murder case.
Videos emerged showing Jatoi making full use of television, airconditioner, and a refrigerator among other facilities, in a private hospital room. This is a clear violation of the rules and procedures of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Read more: CM Sindh announces huge punishment for Shahrukh Jatoi’s facilitators
Moreover, sources stated that Jatoi left the hospital premises on several occasions. During that time, no police officials were on duty. After the report emerged, authorities immediately shifted Shahrukh Jatoi back to jail. They also launched an inquiry that revealed that more prisoners enjoyed such perks.
Shahrukh Jatoi. For decades jails are heaven for criminals in Sindh. They are free to go where ever they want to go, hospitals or home, can operate from their cells. On whose orders they were send to hospitals and now bacck need to be probe and those responsible be punished.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) January 11, 2022
Hospitals running a criminal network?
According to sources, the prisoners included eight convicts and 13 under-trial prisoners. The prisoners, who were supposed to be in jail, enjoyed freedom for a long time on the pretext of medical grounds.
After admission into the hospitals, prisoners even went back to their homes. They stayed at their homes most of the time and visited the hospitals occasionally to keep up appearances. They also drove around the city.
Interestingly, sources stated that the Inspector General of Prison, Health Department, jail superintendent were aware of the matter.
“The IG prison, the home department, and the jail superintendent knew the situation,” the sources disclosed, adding the prison staff and inmates accompanying them would get hefty amounts to facilitate them.
بااثر قیدیوں کو سہولتیں دینے والے ہسپتالوں کے نیٹ ورک کا انکشاف۔#Pakistan #DawnNews #Hospitals pic.twitter.com/xS3WOakh5X
— DawnNews (@Dawn_News) January 13, 2022
According to media reports, three government hospitals and five private hospitals facilitated the prisoners. The hospitals had been allowing prisoners such freedom for quite a while. Also, only prisoners wealthy and influential prisoners manage to take refuge at private health facilities since they have to bear the expenses of their “treatment.”
This raised concern among netizens as they once again criticized authorities in Sindh for the malpractice.
Read more: Shahrukh Jataoi being treated as VIP despite CJP orders