Islamabad: Supreme Court (SC) has rejected all reports on condition of jails in the country.
The court has directed all federal and provincial interior secretaries and IGs Jails to appear before it in person besides seeking all the details and statistics from them within two weeks.
The court has also directed monitoring judges of High Court to inform it about the prevailing condition of jails.
The court remarked, “federal and provincial governments should improve the condition of the jails. New jails should be established and jail manual must be got adhered to. Facilities must be provided to women jail inmates and under trial prisoners as per law”
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked law has assigned the monitoring of jails and supervising prisoners related matters to sessions judges. Federal ombudsmen or provincial ombudsmen are not authorized to visit the jails.
Justice Dost Muhammad Khan remarked “had Pakistani jails been so good and equipped with facilities then the politicians and bureaucrats would not have tried to go to hospital instead of jail during their detention”
A two member bench of SC comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan took up the case for hearing Tuesday.,
During the hearing of the case of condition of women prisoners in jails, federation and provinces presented their reports. Secretary law and justice commission Sarwar Khan appeared before court.
Justice Dost Muhammad remarked “we are seeing no special progress in the matter”
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked “this is responsibility of state to get implement law and constitution. Framing the policy is not job of Wafaqi ombudsman”
He further remarked “the thing is very simple. Improving the condition of jails is domain of ministry of interior. We will summon interior secretary”
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked Punjab has done no work. Sessions judges should be activated. IG Jails KPK presented the report in person.
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked that 4000 prisoners are being kept in a jail having capacity of 1000 prisoners.
Razzaq A Mirza said that five jails have been built this year. Five more jails will be built in next year. There are 11 prisons in Baluchistan.
Baluchistan government told the court that letter has been written to the government for construction of new jails. Budget has been allocated, which will be approved soon.