Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has directed the law and justice ministry to prepare recommendations for the release of inmates languishing in various jails for years because of the police’s failure to bring any solid evidence against them, officials have said.
Gilani also directed Law Minister Farooq H Naek to prepare a summary of reforms to be introduced in jails to revamp the policing system, a move which could change the jail system in Pakistan. Gilani put forward this suggestion during his meeting with the law minister last night.
These proposals from Gilani came after the jailbreak in Bannu, when dozens of Taliban insurgents stormed into the central jail and freed over 384 prisoners - an incident that shocked law enforcement agencies, raising questions about the jailing system in Pakistan and the security measures taken to prevent such attacks.
He also asked Naek to look into the reasons for the delay in the disposal of cases and the number of prisoners who pine away in jails because their cases are not proceeding.
Naek, following the directions of the prime minister, will now visit jails and hold meetings with the inspector generals’ of jails belonging to every province so as to address the issue of inmates, law ministry officials told The Express Tribune on Friday.
All inmates who have completed their sentence and all cases filed against them without any consequential evidence will be disposed of as quickly as possible in accordance with the law and Constitution, Naek was quoted as saying.
With these reforms, the minister will soon be visiting jail compounds to gain first-hand knowledge of the conditions and analyse the causes of delay in the disposal of cases.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik also constituted a high-powered committee to prepare recommendations for jail reforms three days ago; Interior Secretary Siddiq-e-Akbar will head the committee looking into jail related issues.
Meanwhile, the ministry of law and justice has planned to start a ‘Radio Programme’ to render legal advice to the public over the telephone regarding different issues.
In this regard, Supreme Court Bar Association President Yasin Azad has also assured the ministry of their help.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2012.
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What exactly is there to 'DECIDE'? If you are holding them 'ILLEGALLY' you must release them and also compensate them.
"He also asked Naek to look into the reasons for the delay in the disposal of cases and the number of prisoners who pine away in jails because their cases are not proceeding." The delay in the disposal of cases is because the high judiciary is only working on political, manufactured, populist and newest cases. Let the people rot in jail for years and years but the politics of revenge and ego cannot wait.