A house of reform : Home department to tackle issues of inmates

Additional secretary says medical team to handle health problems in Peshawar Central Prison

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs department has taken steps to resolve health issues and other problems faced by inmates of Peshawar Central Prison.

During a monthly meeting of the Government Citizens Forum (GCF) on Tuesday, Additional Home Secretary Arif Khattak said the department had stationed a team of dermatologists at the prison.

“Over 100 inmates were treated apart from being provided medicine and prescriptions,” he added.



The meeting was chaired by Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Arbab Muhammad Arif and attended by other members of the forum.

Bahram Khan, a member of a team that visited the facility, presented a report on the challenges faced by inmates. Responding to the problems pointed out by the GCF team, Khattak said efforts were afoot to not only ensure facilities for prisoners, but to also dispose of ongoing trials at the earliest.

“A meeting of relevant officials for this purpose will be held shortly,” he said.

The additional secretary said problems faced by inmates will persist if there were delays in case proceedings related to petty crimes.

Earlier in the day, GCF members – including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KPCCI) President Fawad Ishaq Khan – had discussed a diverse menu of problems at the prison facility.

Most of the members insisted on framing a policy to make prisons centres of reforms, awareness and education. “We must establish contacts with the prisoners,” one of the members said. “I suggest people from all walks of life support a prisoner and motivate them by sending gifts and items for daily use.”

Looming threat

GCF also discussed threats to academics at University of Peshawar. Former vice chancellor Dr Qibla Ayaz and Professor Jamil briefed participants about threats and the presence of over 300 police personnel to counter them.

Jamil revealed academics received 54 threatening calls in a period spanning just two months.

“Universities should be allowed their own security system as the police force becomes a burden with its limited resources,” he said. “The deployment of police at educational institutes is an added weight on the provincial exchequer.”

The additional home secretary suggested that the university administration should submit a formal summary in this respect.

The meeting endorsed the KPCCI president’s proposal to promote a softer image of the province and decided to approach the federal government to ease restrictions on the trips of foreigners. GCF members said the government must encourage foreigners to visit K-P. The meeting also denounced a complicated procedure to issue no-objection certificates for NGO workers and volunteers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd,  2015.