Federal Ombudsman presented quarterly implementation report regarding improving jails conditions of Pakistan in the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad, the 1st August, 2019 PRESS RELEASE The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat has presented its 3rd quarterly implementation report on the progress of implementation in jail reforms recommendations to improve jail conditions in Pakistan. In this regard the Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz held numerous meetings at the four provincial headquarters and in his office with Chief Secretaries and IG Prisons of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhaw, Sindh and Baluchistan. The report has been presented in the Supreme Court by the Secretary WMS Dr. Jamal Nasir and Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmed Khokhar, Senior Adviser Law of Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat. Earlier, the Federal Ombudsman submitted its recommendations in Suo Motu case No.1 of 2006 in consultation with stakeholders before the Supreme Court which had been endorsed by the court and asked to submit quarterly reports. The Federal Ombudsman has already directed all the provinces to constitute two committees namely Provincial and District Oversight Committees to monitor jail conditions. The Ministry of Interior & Provincial Home/Prison Departments have been asked to appoint Senior Officers to act as a Focal Person to monitor Committees. The Law & Justice Commission together with Advocates General and Provincial Ombudsmen will review and submit proposals for significant expansion of probation / parole facilities to reduce pressure on accommodation facilities in jails. Under these recommendations, one post of psychiatrist has been created in all jails and biometric system has also already been installed in all jails of Pakistan. The Ombudsman Secretariat has also provided the under mentioned data of prisoners in the Supreme Court: Item Punjab Sindh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Balochistan Total jails 42 24 21 11 Sanctioned Strength 32477 13038 8395 2585 Present strength 45423 16739 15969 2014 Convicted 16680 4177 2700 723 Under trial 25493 12562 12504 1151 Male 44078 16402 1137 Female 783 190 137 19 Juvenile 562 147 382 44 Condemned 3250 525 215 61 Total 168788 63804 40323 7745 The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat has also suggested a way forward in improving jail conditions. In this regard, all provinces have been directed to induct members of good reputation from civil society, retired civil servants, judicial officers, bar councils and chambers of commerce as members of the Oversight Committees. Home departments should provide better facilities to prisoners in jails, judicial lockups and Bakshi Khanas. All IG prisons should take the donors on board to provide better medical facilities to prisoners. Rehabilitation centers for mentally deranged and drug addict prisoners should be established and lab. tests for HIV and Hepatitis prisoners be ensured. Educational facilities with the help of educational institutions should also be ensured in all jails. It has also been proposed to establish a Prisoners Welfare Fund at provincial level. Apart from above, the Ombudsman Secretariat is going to sign an MOU with the University of Health Sciences, Lahore for providing psychological cum technical training of trainers for prisoners in jails. The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat has assured the Apex Court to promptly monitor the implementation to improve jail conditions with the help of provincial authorities.