Punjab suspends two Mianwali jail officials in reshuffle

Punjab authorities have suspended two senior officials at Central Jail Mianwali for 90 days on charges of inefficiency, negligence and misconduct

LAHORE: Punjab authorities have suspended two senior officials at Central Jail Mianwali for 90 days on charges of inefficiency, negligence and misconduct.

The Punjab Home Department also ordered the transfer and posting of new superintendents at Central Jail Mianwali and District Jail Bhakkar.

The decisions were issued in a series of orders dated Aug 28 and took effect immediately.

Muhammad Siddique Gill, a BS-18 superintendent, was transferred from District Jail Bhakkar and posted as superintendent of Central Jail Mianwali.

His appointment was made under Section 9 of the Punjab Civil Services Act, 1974. It will remain in force until further orders.

Gill replaced Rasool Bukhsh, BS-18, who was serving as superintendent of Central Jail Mianwali.

Bukhsh was suspended for three months under Section 6 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006.

The order cited charges of inefficiency, negligence and misconduct. It directed Bukhsh to report to the Inspectorate of Prisons, Punjab, Lahore.

The Home Department also suspended Muhammad Asad Tariq, BS-17, deputy superintendent (Executive) at Central Jail Mianwali.

Tariq was suspended for 90 days under the same law and on the same charges. He was also directed to report to the Inspectorate of Prisons in Lahore.

The department made a temporary arrangement for the executive administration of the prison following Tariq’s suspension.

Sami Ullah Khan, BS-17, deputy superintendent (Judicial) at Central Jail Mianwali, was given additional charge of deputy superintendent (Executive).

The additional charge took effect immediately and will continue until further orders.

At District Jail Bhakkar, the Home Department appointed Arif Shahzad, BS-17, as superintendent.

Shahzad is serving as deputy superintendent at the Inspectorate of Prisons, Punjab, Lahore.

His appointment was also made under Section 9 of the Punjab Civil Services Act, 1974, and will remain in effect until further orders.

The orders place Gill at the helm of Central Jail Mianwali and Shahzad at District Jail Bhakkar.

The Home Department notifications did not specify the incidents or circumstances behind the charges against Bukhsh and Tariq.