Incarceration beyond capacity

The news that Pakistan’s prisons are beyond capacity by 57 per cent is a human-rights issue and reflects a mindset of injustice and low regard for human well-being. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Cursor Development and Education (Code) Pakistan released a report, Addressing Overcrowding in Prisons by Reducing Pre-Conviction Detention in Pakistan highlighting some of the wretched conditions that inmates exist in, including limited access to open air and drinking water. Medical care is negligent and with little importance assigned to hygiene, spread of disease remains at high risk. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, along with relevant departments, must work to assuage conditions for prisoners.

Approximately 67 per cent of those incarcerated are awaiting trial, which underscores the need for faster delivery of justice. Court proceedings are tedious and the rate at which justice is delivered is sluggish. Although a major overhaul is the ultimate solution with better systems of checks and balances, the report’s suggestions for urgent and short-term adjustments such as availability of food, water and air should be adopted pronto. Admittedly, some of the findings of the report such as poor access to toilets in prisons sound similar to other buildings like schools across the country. However, because the justice system has more frequently followed a pattern of “guilty until proven innocent” in the recent past, more critical attention needs to be paid to the plight of prisoners. They are disadvantaged due to their alleged legal transgressions and looked down upon in society but this does not justify inhumane means of existence.

Speedy delivery of justice should be adopted whether it is through better training of human resource, improved accountability of those who commit corruption in the system or more purveyors of justice. Greater awareness of laws and adherence to punishment would also alleviate the strain on resources. For now, however, basic necessities must be delivered to inmates, especially in scorching temperatures.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2018.

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