Implementation status: Ombudsman reports on prison conditions

Tells SC provinces have adopted mechanism for release of prisoners on parole

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsman has told the Supreme Court that provincial prison departments have adopted a mechanism for release of prisoners on parole under the Good Conduct Prisoners Probationer Release Act, 1926.

In a report submitted to the SC on status of implementation of its recommendations to improve the situation of imprisonment, by the Federal Ombudsman's senior legal adviser Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar said the home departments have said much work has already been done in this regard.



“In order to review and submit proposals for significant expansion of probation/parole facilities to reduce pressure on accommodation in jails, it was desired that provincial home departments make recommendations so that the probation/parole system is revisited and made more effective to deal not only with overcrowding but also for reformation of convicts, juvenile and first-time offenders," it said.

It said the provincial prison departments have started computerisation of prisoners' record in jails. Presently, the record of prisoners is randomly computerised and it is a time-consuming process.

However, the provincial authorities have been impressed upon to complete this exercise in all jails in their jurisdiction within the shortest possible time and to develop interface among police, prisons, courts and the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) for monitoring and verification of the prisoners record and court proceedings and submit a compliance report.

“The provincial governments and agencies have assured to take steps for development of the required computerised interface. NADRA has offered full support in this regard,” it said.

It said all the concerned provincial departments have stated that process for establishment of new jails has been started and requisite funds have been sought from the respective provincial governments.

Regarding compliance of recommendations in Sindh, the report says Sindh additional home secretary said new jails were under construction at Districts Malir, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah but various districts including Mithi, Qambar Ali Shah, Tando Allah Yar, Jamshoro, Kashmore, Kandhkot have no jails.

It urged Sindh home department to initiate proposals and submit PC-1 for establishing district jails in much needed districts on priority basis as there is a need for separate jails for every district including the six districts of Karachi.



It said the Federal Ombudsman, the Provincial Ombudsmen and the District Oversight Committees would monitor status of implementation on their recommendations like provision of missing facilities, segregation of prisoners of different categories, free legal education, upgrading of probation and parole, philanthropy assistance, computeridation of prisoners record, formal and technical skills programmes.

For verification of implementation, visits of different jails would also be undertaken by members of Federal and Provincial Ombudsman Offices and District Oversight Committees.

It assured the Supreme Court that all efforts shall continue to be made to ensure prompt action on the references made by it to this secretariat and shall keep a close coordination with the provincial ombudsmen's offices as well as the concerned agencies at federal and provincial level, for this purpose.