IHC seeks detailed report on jail reforms

Implementation Commission tell court it has started work on judicial order

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday directed the Ministry of Human Rights to submit a comprehensive report on the plight of prisoners detained in different jails of the country.

Last month, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari had submitted a report before the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah highlighting the state of prisoners in jails across the country.

The report stated that amongst the total prison population, almost 2,100 prisoners suffered from physical ailments, approximately 2,400 from contagious diseases like HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis and approximately 600 prisoners from mental diseases.

The IHC judge had observed that the report “indicated the apathy, disregard and indifference of state functionaries towards ordinary citizens.”

Justice Minallah noted that it was the duty of the federal government to ensure that commitments of the state of Pakistan under the ratified conventions were implemented.

While appreciating the commission for submitting the report, the court converted the inquiry commission to ‘Implementation Commission’ for ensuring that the recommendations are complied with so that the commitments of the state of Pakistan under the ratified conventions are fulfilled.

The court directed the Implementation Commission to seek reports from the respective chief secretaries of the provinces — who are also members of the Commission — regarding implementation of the recommendations made in the report.

On Saturday, the commission said that it had started work on the judicial order and had sent letters to the chief secretaries. The court sought a detailed report on the matter and adjourned the hearing of the case for two weeks.