Sindh Assembly Session. PHOTO: FILE
"It will provide a policy for regulating such matters and make provisions for the establishment, management, control and security of prisons and welfare of prisoners," said the minister for parliamentary affairs, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, while presenting the bill. He added that equal opportunities will be provided to prisoners to participate in cultural activities and vocational training and other facilities without any discrimination on the grounds of race, offence, colour, gender, language, religion, sect, ethnicity or status.
Provision of facilities
Chapter No. 9 of the new law, which deals with prisoners' well-being and rehabilitation, states that basic human rights will be provided to all prisoners without any discrimination. "Along with adequate diet and clean drinking water, each prisoner will have access to newspapers, books and writing material, air cooler, LED TV and a personal computer(without internet)," states the law, adding that the prisoners will have to pay for these facilities themselves.
The board
The government will also establish the "Prison and Policy Board", headed by the minister, advisor or special assistant to the chief minister.
The secretaries of the home, finance, law, health and welfare departments, prosecutor-general and three members of the provincial assembly - two from treasury and one from the opposition benches - will be members of the board.
The board will review and recommend the infrastructural needs of prisons and make suggestions for the construction of new prisons or improvements in the existing structures. It will also advise the government on policy matters relating to the management, development and administration of the service.
Regarding the appointment of Prisons IG, the law states that the IG shall be appointed by the government from among the Deputy Inspector Generals of Jail Police.
Per the law, the medical officer deputed in the jail has been granted the authority to refer any under-trial prisoner for check up in a hospital, if they have a pre-existing medical condition. The opinion of the medical officer shall be binding.
The law further states that each prisoner can avail medical facilities in government and even private hospitals, subject to the permission of officer in-charge. "The prisoner will be personally liable for the cost of consultation, examination or treatment at the private hospital," Chapter 9 of the bill reads.
Audio/video calls from jail
For the first time, the law has also allowed prisoners to make audio and video calls from jail. Chapter 10 of the bill states: "A prisoner may send and receive letters personally or may make or receive audio and video calls as may be prescribed under the rules."
According to the law, the government will establish vocational training centres, besides primary and secondary schools and colleges in prisons.
Opposition's protest
Earlier, the opposition parties started to protest after the speaker refused to give them time to speak on the HIV outbreak in Larkana. As the question-answer session came to an end, the opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi wanted to speak, but the speaker preferred to finish the agenda. "I will give you the time, let me finish the agenda," he said.
The opposition leader, along with other PTI members stood up and started to argue with the speaker. The joint opposition members belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Grand Democratic Alliance protested and besieged the speaker's podium. They continued the protest for at least 10 minutes and did not even take part in the legislation on prisons. After the bill was passed, the speaker adjourned the session till today (Saturday).
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