Concerns over overcrowding in K-P jails
PHC’s senior judge directs social welfare dept to ensure rehabilitation
PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Concerns have been expressed over the dismal conditions of prisons in the province, particularly the shortage of space in overcrowded jails apart from a lack of mental, physical health facilities and support for rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates.
These concerns were expressed by Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) Justice Qalandar Ali Khan whilst chairing a high-level meeting on prison conditions on Friday.
During the meeting, Justice Qalandar, a senior judge of the PHC, narrated what he experienced while visiting various prisons around Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) recently.
“Over-crowding in jails is one of the main problems which requires the immediate attention of the government,” Justice Qalander said.
He also expressed concern over the acute shortage of medicines and diagnostic facilities inside prisons.
In this regard, he urged the provincial finance department to enhance funds for prisons so that basic medicines can be provided while laboratories equipped with the necessary machines can be set up in jails. One key testing need, Justice Qalandar identified was to include screening tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis.
“Proper facilities are not being provided to jail inmates. Medical officers are unavailable and there is a shortage of diagnostic equipment in prisons of the province,” Justice Qalandar informed the meeting.
K-P inspector general prisons disclosed that 93 per cent of work on building new barracks in the Peshawar Central Jail has been completed. At this, the finance department’s special secretary disclosed that funds will be released soon to complete the construction work.
Justice Qalandar directed that once the barracks have been built and operationalized, juveniles and women inmates should be shifted into them on priority.
The health department’s special secretary assured the meeting that medical officers will be deputed in every prison, adding that the provincial government will facilitate the provision of basic medicines in hospitals of prisons.
The participants of the meeting stressed the need for rehabilitating those inmates who were addicted to drugs to make them useful citizens of society.
In this regard, Justice Qalandar suggested that a separate ward should be created in all District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospitals for the detoxification of such inmates. Later, they can be handed over to the social welfare department for their rehabilitation.
Social welfare department secretary assured that efforts will be made for rehabilitating addicted inmates at the district level. In this regard, the health secretary said that 10 beds have been reserved for drug addicts in hospitals of Peshawar, Lower Dir, Swat and Kohat.
It was decided that the social welfare department will provide services for rehabilitating and reforming inmates.
Construction of a new district jail in Nowshera was also discussed with regards to a site identified for the facility. The meeting was told that the location for the jail has been finalised and that construction work will start soon.
Justice Qalandar directed IG Prisons to monitor the construction work and expedite the fulfilment of necessary formalities so that work can start at the earliest and address the issue of overcrowding at the earliest.
IG prison was also urged to ensure that construction on the Swabi District Jail is also completed soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2018.
Concerns have been expressed over the dismal conditions of prisons in the province, particularly the shortage of space in overcrowded jails apart from a lack of mental, physical health facilities and support for rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates.
These concerns were expressed by Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) Justice Qalandar Ali Khan whilst chairing a high-level meeting on prison conditions on Friday.
During the meeting, Justice Qalandar, a senior judge of the PHC, narrated what he experienced while visiting various prisons around Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) recently.
“Over-crowding in jails is one of the main problems which requires the immediate attention of the government,” Justice Qalander said.
He also expressed concern over the acute shortage of medicines and diagnostic facilities inside prisons.
In this regard, he urged the provincial finance department to enhance funds for prisons so that basic medicines can be provided while laboratories equipped with the necessary machines can be set up in jails. One key testing need, Justice Qalandar identified was to include screening tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis.
“Proper facilities are not being provided to jail inmates. Medical officers are unavailable and there is a shortage of diagnostic equipment in prisons of the province,” Justice Qalandar informed the meeting.
K-P inspector general prisons disclosed that 93 per cent of work on building new barracks in the Peshawar Central Jail has been completed. At this, the finance department’s special secretary disclosed that funds will be released soon to complete the construction work.
Justice Qalandar directed that once the barracks have been built and operationalized, juveniles and women inmates should be shifted into them on priority.
The health department’s special secretary assured the meeting that medical officers will be deputed in every prison, adding that the provincial government will facilitate the provision of basic medicines in hospitals of prisons.
The participants of the meeting stressed the need for rehabilitating those inmates who were addicted to drugs to make them useful citizens of society.
In this regard, Justice Qalandar suggested that a separate ward should be created in all District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospitals for the detoxification of such inmates. Later, they can be handed over to the social welfare department for their rehabilitation.
Social welfare department secretary assured that efforts will be made for rehabilitating addicted inmates at the district level. In this regard, the health secretary said that 10 beds have been reserved for drug addicts in hospitals of Peshawar, Lower Dir, Swat and Kohat.
It was decided that the social welfare department will provide services for rehabilitating and reforming inmates.
Construction of a new district jail in Nowshera was also discussed with regards to a site identified for the facility. The meeting was told that the location for the jail has been finalised and that construction work will start soon.
Justice Qalandar directed IG Prisons to monitor the construction work and expedite the fulfilment of necessary formalities so that work can start at the earliest and address the issue of overcrowding at the earliest.
IG prison was also urged to ensure that construction on the Swabi District Jail is also completed soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2018.