Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison - XIX
Faizullah Khan was detained by Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province in April 2014.
Part - 19: (Intriguing account of a Pakistani journalist captured in Afghanistan for interview of Taliban leadership)
Read Part - 18 here: Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison – XVIII
“I came to know about you that a Pakistani journalist has arrived in Afghanistan for spying purpose but there was no need for you to come here as Pakistan is already filled with a lot of news.” After saying this the Mudeer handed me over to an official who took me forward.
The Jalalabad block in which I was shifted is remembered by the name of Guantanamo Bay prison by its inmates. There were atleast 2000 to 2500 prisoners among which women inmates had a separate block. These also included some women prisoners from Pakistan.
The women who were imprisoned with their children belonged to TTP whereas their husbands were also detained with them. Jalalabad jail is much large and quite old with farms present in it. The prisoners also had tailor shops where they sew clothes after taking money. It was an entirely different world.
I had the notion that after some days I will be released soon so there was no need for me to have a haircut. But as days passed I realized that my freedom is yet far away and it was impossible for me to survive in the intense heat with such long hair. In view of this entire situation I myself asked the jail authorities to shave my head.
We reached the Guantanamo Bay block. The official opened the front gate and went straight to block’s incharge who was aged between 40-45 years. He was a smart and polite person and looked like the head of some multinational firm. The official told all my details to the incharge, “Mudeer has asked to transfer this man to jail number one.” He went after saying this. The second official present there took me with him. Various prisoners in the form of groups were sitting there. As I passed through them I heard different voices of mocking me.
The official took me to hairdresser room where according to the jail’s rule they were going to shave my head. But I had found a way to prevent this action as the official had told me that he can save me from getting bald in a deal of Rs500. I considered it worthy and gave him the money.
The official afterwards asked me to buy a handkerchief to cover my head and hair permanently so that no one can get the idea that I had saved myself from getting bald through bribing the official.
The jail apartment had 20-22 prisoners but according to the bed and floor space only twelve people can live there simultaneously.
I had the notion that after some days I will be released soon so there was no need for me to have a haircut. But as days passed I realized that my freedom is yet far away and it was impossible for me to survive in the intense heat with such long hair. In view of this entire situation I myself asked the jail authorities to shave my head.
The official took me to a specific barrack of prisoners and sent me to jail number one under the supervision of its incharge who was an old detainee of Jalalabad jail.
The jail apartment had 20-22 prisoners but according to the bed and floor space only twelve people can live there simultaneously.
Read the Urdu version here: Five months in Jalalabad prison
