RAWALPINDI:
A day after the Punjab government imposed a two-week ban on prisoner visitations, as well as media coverage, at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, the law enforcement agencies on Wednesday conducted a mock exercise to deal with any untoward situation at the prison.
Pakistan Rangers, Rawalpindi police, anti-terrorism wing of the prisons department, Rescue 1122 and the bomb disposal squad participated in the drill.
Adiala Jail houses high-profile political figures, including PTI founder and former premier Imran Khan, party president Parvez Elahi, ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry.
After reviewing the safety protocols of three penitentiaries in Punjab, including the Adiala Jail, the Punjab interior ministry had ordered to beef up the security at these prisons and carry out mock exercises to deal with any emergency situation.
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According to sources, a mock attack by terrorists on the prison was simulated before the exercise. Simultaneously, the security officials deputed at the prison, including a heavy contingent of Rawalpindi police, Rangers, anti-terrorism wing of the prisons department, and the jail police, sprang into action.
The bomb disposal squad and Rescue 1122 officials also promptly reached the spot from Rawalpindi as soon upon receiving the SOS (save our souls) call.
The Rangers, Rawalpindi Police, and the anti-terrorism wing of the prisons department cordoned off the jail compound and effectively disarmed the terrorists.
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The bomb disposal squad swept the jail compound and cleared it, after which a detailed search operation was also carried out in the prison.
The jail officials hailed the response of the security agencies during the mock exercise as “timely and exemplary”. They stated these exercises would continue in future.
The Rawalpindi police also conducted a five-hour long search operation across the jail during which the data of the area residents was collected and verified.
