Out of space: CM orders measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons
Asks relevant authorities to help him turn jails into reformatory centres, correction houses
Move comes as CM Shah wants prisoners to be treated humanely. PHOTOS: FILE
KARACHI:
The issue of overcrowding in jails across the province can only be solved if under-construction prisons are completed, said Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah.
The CM said this while presiding over a meeting at New Sindh Secretariat on Thursday to review the conditions of jails in Sindh and completion of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) buildings’ construction. The meeting was attended by chief secretary Siddique Memon, additional chief secretary Muhammad Waseem, Prisons IG Nusrat Mangnijo, home secretary Riaz Soomro, prosecutor-general Shahadat Awan and works secretary Aijaz Memon among others.
The CM said that he is working to turn jails into reformatory centres. Therefore, he added, the jail department, law teams and other relevant authorities will have to work with him. He also directed the chief secretary to send him the proposal to bring salaries of the prison department force at par with the Sindh police.
While briefing the CM, Prisons IG Mangnijo said that there are 25 jails in Sindh that have a capacity to accommodate 12,245 inmates. However, according to him, 20,308 prisoners are currently there in these prisons. “It is our responsibility to look after them [inmates] properly and deal with them like human beings,” said the CM while directing Mangnijo to treat the prisoners humanely.
According to Mangnijo, the ratio of prisoners being produced in the court in Karachi is 69%, 98% in Hyderabad and 97% in Sukkur region. The CM directed the chief secretary to take necessary measures to improve these ratios. Meanwhile, in the ATCs, production ratio of prisoners in Karachi and Hyderabad is 100%, while it is 98.56% in Sukkur. The CM was informed by the chief secretary that out of the 20 ATCs that are under construction, six will be ready by November. However, Shah asked the chief secretary to direct the relevant project director to complete the project by October 25.
The CM further directed the chief secretary to prepare schemes for construction of prisons in District West, for which 200 acres of land has already been allotted. Similarly, 300 acres at Gaghar and 240 acres at Deh Thming Malir have been allotted for construction of two new jails. The CM also directed Mangnijo to prepare a plan for shifting prisoners to Badin Open Jail, which has over 2,000 acres of land. The CM suggested that by involving Tando Jam Agriculture University, these prisoners should be taught new cropping methods, gardening and other such things. He said that most of the prisons have been under construction for the last many years and warned the relevant authorities to complete them otherwise strict action will be taken against them. The CM also issued directions for preparation of schemes for jails in Mithi and Umerkot districts. He also urged Mangnijo to provide the prisoners with phone call facility as per the policy and engage them in activities such as sports, industrial works and educational activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2016.
The issue of overcrowding in jails across the province can only be solved if under-construction prisons are completed, said Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah.
The CM said this while presiding over a meeting at New Sindh Secretariat on Thursday to review the conditions of jails in Sindh and completion of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) buildings’ construction. The meeting was attended by chief secretary Siddique Memon, additional chief secretary Muhammad Waseem, Prisons IG Nusrat Mangnijo, home secretary Riaz Soomro, prosecutor-general Shahadat Awan and works secretary Aijaz Memon among others.
The CM said that he is working to turn jails into reformatory centres. Therefore, he added, the jail department, law teams and other relevant authorities will have to work with him. He also directed the chief secretary to send him the proposal to bring salaries of the prison department force at par with the Sindh police.
While briefing the CM, Prisons IG Mangnijo said that there are 25 jails in Sindh that have a capacity to accommodate 12,245 inmates. However, according to him, 20,308 prisoners are currently there in these prisons. “It is our responsibility to look after them [inmates] properly and deal with them like human beings,” said the CM while directing Mangnijo to treat the prisoners humanely.
According to Mangnijo, the ratio of prisoners being produced in the court in Karachi is 69%, 98% in Hyderabad and 97% in Sukkur region. The CM directed the chief secretary to take necessary measures to improve these ratios. Meanwhile, in the ATCs, production ratio of prisoners in Karachi and Hyderabad is 100%, while it is 98.56% in Sukkur. The CM was informed by the chief secretary that out of the 20 ATCs that are under construction, six will be ready by November. However, Shah asked the chief secretary to direct the relevant project director to complete the project by October 25.
The CM further directed the chief secretary to prepare schemes for construction of prisons in District West, for which 200 acres of land has already been allotted. Similarly, 300 acres at Gaghar and 240 acres at Deh Thming Malir have been allotted for construction of two new jails. The CM also directed Mangnijo to prepare a plan for shifting prisoners to Badin Open Jail, which has over 2,000 acres of land. The CM suggested that by involving Tando Jam Agriculture University, these prisoners should be taught new cropping methods, gardening and other such things. He said that most of the prisons have been under construction for the last many years and warned the relevant authorities to complete them otherwise strict action will be taken against them. The CM also issued directions for preparation of schemes for jails in Mithi and Umerkot districts. He also urged Mangnijo to provide the prisoners with phone call facility as per the policy and engage them in activities such as sports, industrial works and educational activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2016.