Jamshed Dasti complains being kept in cell with snakes, scorpions

SARGODHA: Arrested National Assembly member Jamshed Dasti on Thursday complained to the court that he is being subjected to torture in prison, ARY News reported.

Dasti, when presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court of Additional Session Judge Sargodha, told the judge that he was being kept in a cell infested with mice, snakes and scorpions.

A video of the lawmaker from Muzaffargarh, has also emerged while talking from a police van, in which a weeping Dasti is seen appealing to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of his plight.

He complained that he is being subjected to torture and was deprived of food for six days. He also claimed that he has been booked in false cases and being punished for his humble background.

Dasti, chairman of Pakistan Awami Raj party, was arrested on June 08 for forcibly opening the sluice gate at a canal to release irrigation water to Dinga minor.

Dasti is facing 27 criminal cases including the one related to forcibly releasing water into the Dinga canal and torturing irrigation officials.

The Karamdad Qureshi police had registered a case against him under sections 353, 430, 148, 149 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code on an application submitted by the Kot Addu irrigation sub-division officer.

It was alleged in the complaint that the MNA had forcibly released water into the Dinga canal and when irrigation officials informed him that it was closed following court orders he threatened them with dire consequences.