Muzaffargarh: National Assembly member Jamshed Dasti was released from Sargodha jail on Monday afternoon a few days after a video went viral on social media showing him accusing jail authorities of torture.
However, his claim was dismissed in a report released by the provincial government on June 30. The report stated that an examination conducted to ascertain Dasti’s claim found no marks of torture on his body.
Dasti, who heads the Awami Raj Party, had stated that he was subjected to severe torture and starvation in the prison. He had appealed the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of his ordeal.
Addressing the media on his release from the prison on Monday, Dasti said, “I’m grateful to the independent judiciary for taking suo motu notice [of my ordeal].” He said, “I was kept starved for six days and was only able to eat today after the visit of the sessions judge. Allah has granted me a new life.”
Last month, an anti-terrorism court had accepted Dasti’s bail application in multiple cases and issued orders for his release from the Multan Central Jail. However, the MNA from Muzaffargarh found himself implicated in another case minutes before his scheduled release.
Subsequently, he was arrested for allegedly instigating a crowd to open a sluice gate at Kalu headworks channel resulting in release of irrigation water in the Dinga minor (Muzaffargarh canal). An FIR was lodged against him with Civil Lines police station on charges of water theft. In their complaint, Irrigation Department officials alleged that the MNA instigated his supporters to open the gate closed a few months ago over litigation. In a statement over the issue, Dasti held that his actions were meant to facilitate farmers deprived of irrigation water.
Published in Daily Times, July 4th , 2017.
