Sindh cabinet approves new prison reforms, terming previous as ‘punitive in nature’
The new bill will focus on fundamental rights of prisoners, welfare and rehabilitation
PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh government took another lead on Monday to introduce major reforms in the punitive prisons system in Sindh and repeal the over 100- year-old colonial law. In this regard, Sindh cabinet discarded the Prisons Act of 1894 and approved the new bill, 'Sindh Prisons and Correction Act 2019'.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and other secretaries.
The meeting also approved a draft bill to take over control of Evacuee Trust Properties in the province. In this connection, the cabinet formed a committee under the supervision of Minorities Minister Hari Ram to improve the draft.
Redesigning Pakistani prisons must for reforming inmates: Sindh Prisons IG
The chief minister, talking about prisons reforms, said, "The purpose of reforms in prison system is to maintain peaceful and safe society by enforcing sentences given by the courts, confining all prisoners in safe custody whilst ensuring their fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, assisting the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into the society as law abiding citizens through provision of reformation programme. Therefore, we have to make our Act and rules accordingly," he said.
Earlier, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir briefed the cabinet about the Prisons Acts of 1894 and said, "It was primarily punitive in nature and it lacked certain aspects such as reformation, adequate security, clarity on policy and management and also lacked core focus on development of prison human resources."
Spelling out salient features of the draft law, Prisons Minister Syed Nasir Shah said, "It has 14 chapters and 84 sections in which purpose of prison system, basic principles and definitions have been defined. The law has been drafted in the light of human rights issues."
Sindh Evacuee Trust Act
The Sindh cabinet also approved the 'Sindh Evacuee Trust Property Board and Enactment of Sindh Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act' in order to administer evacuee properties including left behind by non-Muslims who migrated to India after partition.
Sindh Information Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, while briefing the media on it, said, "After the 18th Amendment, evacuee trust has been devolved to provincial government. It was mandatory to make a law on this issue," he said adding that cabinet had also formed a committee under supervision of minorities to improve the draft and refer to Sindh Assembly for legislation.
Sindh govt to commute elderly inmates’ sentences
He said that the Evacuee Trust Properties which were previously being managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board now needs to be made managed by the provincial government through legislation.
Amendment in LG Act
The cabinet also approved the amendment in Section 26 of the Sindh Local Government Act-2013 regarding resignation of office bearers. Under sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 26 of Sindh Local Government Act-2013, it has been provided that a mayor, deputy mayor, chairman, vice chairman or member of council may resign from his or her office by tendering resignation in writing under his or her hand to the council and the council shall forward the copies of the resignation to the government which shall be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan for notification.
The meeting was informed that it has been experienced that the council concerned while receiving resignation from an office bearer/member was reluctant to process it further. The cabinet approved to substitute the word `council' with `Administrative Department.'
Now the office bearers/members would send their resignation to the local government instead of sending it to the council. The cabinet authorised chief minister adviser on information to nominate three members for PEMRA.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2019.
The Sindh government took another lead on Monday to introduce major reforms in the punitive prisons system in Sindh and repeal the over 100- year-old colonial law. In this regard, Sindh cabinet discarded the Prisons Act of 1894 and approved the new bill, 'Sindh Prisons and Correction Act 2019'.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and other secretaries.
The meeting also approved a draft bill to take over control of Evacuee Trust Properties in the province. In this connection, the cabinet formed a committee under the supervision of Minorities Minister Hari Ram to improve the draft.
Redesigning Pakistani prisons must for reforming inmates: Sindh Prisons IG
The chief minister, talking about prisons reforms, said, "The purpose of reforms in prison system is to maintain peaceful and safe society by enforcing sentences given by the courts, confining all prisoners in safe custody whilst ensuring their fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, assisting the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into the society as law abiding citizens through provision of reformation programme. Therefore, we have to make our Act and rules accordingly," he said.
Earlier, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir briefed the cabinet about the Prisons Acts of 1894 and said, "It was primarily punitive in nature and it lacked certain aspects such as reformation, adequate security, clarity on policy and management and also lacked core focus on development of prison human resources."
Spelling out salient features of the draft law, Prisons Minister Syed Nasir Shah said, "It has 14 chapters and 84 sections in which purpose of prison system, basic principles and definitions have been defined. The law has been drafted in the light of human rights issues."
Sindh Evacuee Trust Act
The Sindh cabinet also approved the 'Sindh Evacuee Trust Property Board and Enactment of Sindh Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act' in order to administer evacuee properties including left behind by non-Muslims who migrated to India after partition.
Sindh Information Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, while briefing the media on it, said, "After the 18th Amendment, evacuee trust has been devolved to provincial government. It was mandatory to make a law on this issue," he said adding that cabinet had also formed a committee under supervision of minorities to improve the draft and refer to Sindh Assembly for legislation.
Sindh govt to commute elderly inmates’ sentences
He said that the Evacuee Trust Properties which were previously being managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board now needs to be made managed by the provincial government through legislation.
Amendment in LG Act
The cabinet also approved the amendment in Section 26 of the Sindh Local Government Act-2013 regarding resignation of office bearers. Under sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 26 of Sindh Local Government Act-2013, it has been provided that a mayor, deputy mayor, chairman, vice chairman or member of council may resign from his or her office by tendering resignation in writing under his or her hand to the council and the council shall forward the copies of the resignation to the government which shall be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan for notification.
The meeting was informed that it has been experienced that the council concerned while receiving resignation from an office bearer/member was reluctant to process it further. The cabinet approved to substitute the word `council' with `Administrative Department.'
Now the office bearers/members would send their resignation to the local government instead of sending it to the council. The cabinet authorised chief minister adviser on information to nominate three members for PEMRA.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2019.