Punjab jails prepare for video link trial

Prisons IG Baig says millions of rupees spent on the transportation of prisoners would be saved

MULTAN: The authorities have installed digital equipment for video conferencing in nine central jails and nine anti-terrorism courts across Punjab including Multan.

Prisons IG Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig said thousands of dangerous prisoners and terrorists were incarcerated in jails across Punjab and presented before the court on their respective hearing dates. The additional police force was needed while presenting these prisoners before the court due to high-security risk

Baig said the courtrooms have been set up in nine central jails equipped with for video link conferencing. Video link equipment has also been installed in nine anti-terrorism courts. He said the installation of digital devices for monitoring at two high-security jails and eight anti-terrorism courts would be completed soon.

He said millions of rupees spent on the transportation of prisoners would be saved besides saving the time of the relevant courts. He said a summary for the approval of video link trials has been sent to the government. Most of the prisoners in jails do not have identity cards and nothing has been done in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2020.