Ex-Adiala jail official returns home

RAWALPINDI: Zafar Iqbal, the former deputy superintendent of Adiala jail detained on charges of allegedly facilitating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has been released from custody.

Sources said Iqbal was taken into custody on August 13 for questioning related to the allegations.

However, on Friday afternoon, he unexpectedly returned to his residence near Adiala jail, raising questions about the circumstances of his release.

While at home, Iqbal was visited by the family of missing Assistant Superintendent Nazim Shah. During the meeting, Iqbal claimed he had no information regarding Shah’s whereabouts, adding to the case’s mystery.

Besides Zafar Iqbal, Assistant Superintendent Nazim Shah and another officer, former deputy superintendent Muhammad Akram, have also come under scrutiny. Akram was detained on August 14 on similar charges of facilitating and conveying messages to the incarcerated PTI leader.

In a related development, former Punjab IG Prisons Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig denied rumours of his arrest. He denied these claims in a video message on social media, stating, “I’m hearing news of my arrest while sipping tea in my own home. This is what is called yellow journalism.”

As the authorities continue their investigation into the alleged facilitation network within the Adiala jail, more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.