IHC orders action against IG prisons, others

Court issues directives for setting up special court to try errant jail officials

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has ordered to take action against IG prisons Punjab and the Adiala jail superintendent over the alleged
ill-treatment of prisoners in jail.

While directing the federal government to set up a human rights court within a week, the court said that a trial of human rights viola-
tions would be held in the special court.

The court also directed to set up a complaint cell in Adiala jail.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minullah issued these directives on a report submitted to the court by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) about alleged human rights violations in Adiala jail.

Alluding to the NCHR report, the IHC chief justice remarked that (Adiala jail) seems less like a prison and more like a torture and detention centre.”

The judge observed that “custodial torture is going on and inmates are ridiculed in prisons and the court will not tolerate the torture of prisoners, custodial torture must end now.

The IHC chief justice said that human rights laws were quite strong, which can also look at the violations that may be committed by armed forces”.

When IHC Chief Justice Athar Minullah took up the case against ill-treatment and custodial torture of prisoners in Adiala jail, the NCHR secretary presented the report.

The court said that after seeing the report “it seems Adiala jail is more like a detention centre and not a jail”.

“This is the best report and the tip of the iceberg, why you kept this report confidential? The judge inquired from the NCHR official. He remarked that the court is making this report public and you can also upload it on the website.

The NHRC secretary told the court that inmates have been kept in Adiala jail beyond capacity. He said that “there is only one doctor for four 4,000 prisoners”.

To this, the IHC chief justice said that “this in itself is torture and a violation of human rights”. The court, in the meanwhile, called PTI leader Asad Umar, who was present in the courtroom, on the rostrum, and asked him who should be held accountable for this by this court.

Asad Umar replied that the government should be held responsible for this. To this, the IHC chief justice remarked that earlier it was your government in power and now there is someone else’s government but in the province (Punjab), your party is in power. The judge observed that everyone’s priorities were wrong and no one raises their voice for the hapless.

The judge said fixing the system is the job of executives and not the judiciary.

The judge said that due to these conditions, he had to visit the jail in person, and during the visit, a prisoner said, "If we tell the truth, we will face the consequences after you left the jail”.

The NHRC secretary said that 11 children have been granted bail but they have no place to stay. To this, the IHC chief justice said why they should not be kept in the chief minister’s or the Prime Minister’s House.

The NHRC secretary said that 1,400 prisoners have opted for drugs in jail.

To this, the IHC chief justice said “it is because it has become a hub of corruption”. The judge said that the NHRC can access any prisoner.

They cannot be denied access by the jail superintendent or anyone else.

“You have a lot of authority under the law, you can also hire consultants,” the IHC chief justice told the NHRC secretary and added, “this court receives complaints every day which are being sent to you. Departmental action can also be taken against public servants as per law”.

Meanwhile, the NHRC report brought to light the inhumane treatment of inmates in Adiala jail. The re- port said that 119 inmates in Adiala jail were HIV positive.

It said that the prison was 180 per cent full in terms of the number of inmates.