Punjab to get six new jails: Minister

Chauhan says foreign inmates being given consular access

RAWALPINDI:

Punjab Jails Minister FayyazulHassan Chauhan has said that the provincial government would build six or seven new jails in the province. He added that former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had left Punjab indebted to the tune of Rs 1,200 billion.

The minister made these remarks while visiting Adyala jail on Monday, The minister said the provincial government’s utmost effort was to ensure fair treatment of inmates. Chuhan said that the jails had arrears of millions of rupees which were being cleared by the incumbent Chief Minister. He added that criminals who were foreigners were being given counsellor access. He said that the officials who were suspended in light of the brawl incident in Adyala jail would be identified through the inquiry report.

He said that the postings and transfers in the jails were done at the behest of some elements in the past. "Some inmates were drug peddlers, some were gangsters. They are all living on borrowed time,” the minister commented. Chuhan said the Pakistan Democratic Movement had lost steam. The minister also said he was a promoter of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision and he would strive to ensure the vision became a reality