Death row inmate Shahrukh Jatoi — the main accused in the 2012 Shahzeb Khan murder case — was once again shifted to the central jail after Geo News reported that the convict was enjoying lavish perks at a private hospital in Karachi for more than two years.
According to sources, Jatoi was living on the upper floor of Qamar-ul-Islam Hospital in Karachi, which was reportedly rented by Jatoi’s family for the imprisoned convict. Per details, Jatoi was living a normal life despite being convicted in a murder case.
After the news was broadcast on media, the jail administration took swift action and Jatoi was put behind bars in no time.Jatoi enjoys amenities at private hospital
According to footage available with Geo News, convict Jatoi appeared to be making full use of television, air conditioner, and a refrigerator among other facilities, in a private hospital room — a clear violation of rules and procedures of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Sources said that Jatoi was staying at a private hospital in the Gizri area of Karachi for more than two years instead of Karachi’s central jail.
He was apparently living a “luxurious life on the upper floor of the private hospital.”They further mentioned that Jatoi was also allowed to leave the hospital premises and no police official was seen on duty.Per the report, the upper portion of the private hospital was rented by Jatoi’s family.
They said that Jatoi was transferred from the jail to a private hospital on the “orders of the Sindh Home Department and an influential person was behind this breach of rules.”Well-placed sources in the Sindh Health Department told Geo News that the department was unaware of the decision to transfer Jatoi and the department wasn’t contacted before the transfer.
According to the health department officials, in order to transfer any accused or offender to a private hospital, the home department consults the health department and a medical board is formed to make a final decision.However, the health department sources said that Jatoi was shifted to a private hospital without the formation of a medical board.
Per sources, if a prisoner’s life is in danger, they are transferred to a public or private hospital, however, in this particular case, the health department did not receive any letter from the jail or the home department regarding the transfer of Jatoi.
Under the Jail (Amendment) Act 2019, the Inspector General of Police has the authority to transfer prisoners to hospitals for medical facilities, sources in the provincial home department said.
It is also pertinent to mention here that that in case a prisoner who has been convicted in a murder case has to be hospitalised, they must be shifted to a government facility rather than being shifted to a private hospital.
