A violent clash inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi triggered emergency alarms after prisoners fought over sleeping space late Thursday night.
The incident reportedly began when two newly arrived inmates were denied space inside the barracks. Jail sources said members of the so-called Ashraf Baba Group pushed the prisoners away from sleeping yards and forced them toward the passageway.
Tensions increased when even the floor space was unavailable.
According to the report, Ashraf Baba and three members of his group then allegedly assaulted the two prisoners, who were being held on remand. Sirens sounded inside the prison during the early hours of Friday as the violence escalated.
The report also contains serious allegations against prison staff.
Jail sources claimed that police personnel inside the facility physically abused the two remand prisoners. They further alleged that the Ashraf Baba Group collects money from inmates in exchange for sleeping space.
According to these claims, the group contacts the families of newly arrived prisoners and demands payments before allocating sleeping areas.
The amount allegedly paid can also determine access to better food and additional facilities inside the jail. Sources further claimed that money collected from prisoners is shared with members of the jail administration.
Another allegation states that newly arrived prisoners can have personal expense slips confiscated during searches.
The report did not include an official response from Adiala Jail authorities to these claims.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about overcrowding, prisoner treatment and alleged corruption inside Pakistan’s prison system.
Adiala Jail is one of the country’s most prominent prisons and regularly houses both convicted prisoners and inmates awaiting trial.
The latest clash highlights how limited space and alleged unofficial payment systems can create serious security and human rights concerns inside overcrowded detention facilities.
