Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison - XV
Faizullah Khan was detained by Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province in April 2014.
Part - 15: (Intriguing account of a Pakistani journalist captured in Afghanistan for interview of Taliban leadership)
Read Part - 14 here: Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison – XIV
Twelfth day in the cell brought message of happiness. All the inmates were led out of the cell in order to carry out full search that whether any prisoner possesses some dangerous weapon or not. During this we were seated in the compound of the intelligence office and were provided with scissor and nail-cutter.
The prisoners were talking to each other and discussing their stories. I also narrated mine to them briefly and did not keep any ambiguity. I was afraid that an intelligence official was present in them who came to extract information from us. After ten minutes we were returned back to our cells but this resulted into a hunger strike later as prisoners decided not to have lunch due to delay in interrogation process. Maulan Waliullah Hathyar was leading this movement.
Intelligence officials realized later of their mistake but it was too late as more than 30 prisoners in both the cells had gone on hunger strike.
This was an extremely risky situation for intelligence authorities. Since, minute to minute report of every intelligence office was submitted to the concerned authorities in Kabul therefore; Jalalabad intelligence authorities were caught in trouble regarding the explanation of the situation.
CIA authorities also reside in Jalalabad intelligence centre who interrogate the detained prisoners over there whereas United Nations officials also visit the centre now and then. Black Water and CIA conduct separate operations in Jalalabad and either transfer the captured individuals from Jalalabad to the airport there which was an American base camp or they were kept in intelligence office.
“You are included in those people who are destroying our country. I am not at all bound to inform your family about your whereabouts. If it will be under my control, I will lock you down in the basement cell for your entire life and will not even allow you to watch the sunshine.”
However, the prisoners had gone on hunger strike and did not eat lunch and dinner. Late night, incharge of Jalalabad intelligence office Munawar Shah reached the centre. He went cell to cell to meet the prisoners and discovered their problems. Every inmate had the same complaint that their interrogation process should be concluded soon so that arrangements for their freedom can be made after getting transfer into jail.
Eventually, Munawar Shah reached in front of my cell accompanied by his armed guards. The small window opened. He kept on staring me with his sharp eyes. “What is your problem Pakistani?” he asked me. “I am enduring the heat over here and also have no complaint against the food, however; I seek permission to talk to my family back at home so that I can inform them of my well-being.” I replied to him.
On hearing my answer Munawar Shah burst out in anger. “You are included in those people who are destroying our country. I am not at all bound to inform your family about your whereabouts. If it will be under my control, I will lock you down in the basement cell for your entire life and will not even allow you to watch the sunshine.” He had finished talking and there was nothing left to hear and say after that.
The small window had now closed and my heart sank deeper at once. I start to think about the future which seemed bleak to me. All the prisoners had heard what Munawar Shah said to me and they were also quite worried about it. After sometime Munawar Shah returned from the centre. Food was distributed among the prisoners as their demands were accepted.
Read the Urdu version here: Five months in Jalalabad prison
