ISLAMABAD : National Committee on Jails Reform Friday proposed that laws relating to criminal justice system and prisons need to be revisited for better coordination among allied agencies.

The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat organized a meeting of the National Committee on Jails Reform at Islamabad, which was chaired by Asma Jehangir, former chairperson of Human Rights Commission.

The committee discussed the progress on the implementation of recommendations made in the ombudsman’s report, which has already been presented to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Asma Jehangir proposed that positions of magistrate and law officer be created in jails to monitor the situation to prevent any action contrary to law in relation to prisoners especially the police excesses. She said children and juveniles involved in petty crimes need not be sent jails.

The committee was informed that at present 3700 approximately women and children are in jails. The members of the committee appreciated the efforts of Federal Ombudsman Salman Faruqui made for providing better living facilities to women & children in jails. They also lauded the Federal Ombudsman’s initiatives for prompt justice at the door steps of the people.

Rector COMSATS informed that besides arranging for the education of children inmates, COMSATS is also planning to provide education to jail staff for improving their behaviour with the inmates and the overall jail environment. He also offered the services of psychologists who would interact individually with prisoners for their psychological rehabilitation.

The committee also observed the shortage of staff in jails, over crowdedness, lack of sanitation and health facilities, violence on prisoners particularly women and children, lack of proper food, external oversight mechanism, non-production of under trial prisoners to courts, The HEC, AIOU and COMSAT are jointly arranging education to children and women in jails.