LAHORE: Former Inspector General of Prisons Shahid Saleem Baig has been detained from his official residence at IG House in Lahore, according to news sources.
Baig, who served as the IG Prisons for five years before retiring, is currently under investigation. The inquiry, which focuses on the operations at Adiala Jail, has led to the detention of several individuals.
Former Deputy Superintendent Zafar and DIG Prisons Rawalpindi office Superintendent Nazim Ali Shah are also being questioned in connection with the case.
The investigation is part of a broader probe into allegations of unauthorized access provided to former Prime Minister Imran Khan while he was held at Adiala Jail. This scrutiny follows the recent arrest of a former deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail for allegedly assisting Imran Khan during his incarceration.
In addition to Baig, Central Jail Rawalpindi’s transferred Deputy Superintendent Malik Mohammad Akram and two other officials are undergoing interrogation. This intensified investigation comes after the Punjab government had preemptively retired Baig in October 2022, two months before his official retirement age.
The notification issued by the Punjab Services & General Administration Department specified that Baig’s retirement was effective from October 20, 2022, based on his attainment of the superannuation age.
The current legal developments underscore a significant effort by authorities to address and rectify issues within the prison system, with a focus on uncovering any irregularities that may have compromised the integrity of jail operations.
