Due to security concerns, the Punjab Home Department has implemented a two-week prohibition on visits to prisoners at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The directive, issued to the IG Prisons Punjab, includes a ban on both inmate meetings and external visits, along with a halt on media coverage.
Citing alerts from law enforcement and intelligence agencies regarding potential threats to Adiala Central Jail, the Punjab Home Department’s Internal Security Wing has emphasized the need for immediate precautions. There are reports indicating that anti-state terrorist groups, backed by hostile entities, aim to disrupt national stability by targeting the jail. Consequently, stringent measures are being taken to prevent any untoward incidents.
Recent security measures within the jail premises, including a thorough search operation conducted on March 13 by personnel from the Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, and Prisons Department, are part of the proactive approach. This operation involved the installation of additional barbed wire along the jail’s perimeter walls and the deployment of bomb disposal squads. Furthermore, screening procedures have been intensified for both jail staff and contracted workers, while mock emergency drills and security clearances by police and rangers are being conducted to bolster security measures.
Adiala Central Jail in Rawalpindi houses several high-profile individuals, including PTI founder Imran Khan, former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and various federal ministers.