MULTAN – Awami Raj Party MNA Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, who was remanded for six days to police custody on June 23, has alleged that he is being tortured and starved by police in Multan Central Jail.
In a disturbing video broadcast Thursday, Dasti could be seen apparently breaking down and pleading for help through the grilled windows of a prison vehicle.
https://youtu.be/3-6I2TZUyNg
The seemingly agitated Dasti claimed that he had been severely beaten by police and deprived of food for six days, and that rats and scorpions were often released into his jail cell as a means of torturing him.
Irrigation officials had warned the MNA against opening the gate that had been closed for many months due to litigation. However, Dasti stated that he released water to facilitate farmers who had been complaining of water shortage.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan criticised the government for resorting to ‘dictatorial’ tactics regime in handling Dasti’s case.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/880366260021866497
“Those shedding tears on appearance before the joint investigation team (JIT) investigating the Panamagate case] shamelessly use force on [political] rivals,” Imran said in a statement
Meanwhile, the Chief justice of Lahore High Court has taken notice of alleged torture of MNA Jamshed Dasti’s in jail on Thursday.
The LHC chief justice has demanded a report on the matter from the sessions judge Sarghoda and the anti-terrorism court.
The judges will send their report after visiting the jail on June 30.
