Jamshed Dasti alleges torture, says jail barrack has scorpions

SARGODHA: MNA Jamshed Dasti has said he was being tortured in the jail where he was imprisoned for forcefully opening a canal gate, adding his barrack has scorpions crawling around.

While talking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court on Thursday, sitting in a police van, Dasti said he was being targetted for revenge. As the MNA cried over his "ordeal", he added his barrack had scorpions crawling around and he had not eaten in six days.

Dasti requested for protection, saying he was needed at home as his sister was a cancer patient.

Taking action on Dasti`s claim, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has constituted a medical board to check the veracity of his claims.  

The MNA was taken to the anti-terrorism court under tight security. Since the judge was not present, District and Sessions Judge Sohail Ikram heard the case, ordering Dasti's transfer to District Jail Sargodha till July 3, when the anti-terrorism court Sargodha judge, Tariq Saleem, will hear the case.

The MNA was put behind bars by the Punjab police for forcibly opening a canal gate in Muzaffargarh on May 28, following which the irrigation department lodged a case against him.  

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan lashed out at the treatment being meted out to the national lawmaker.