Inmates unchain creativity

The art and craft exhibition by the Karachi Central Jail prisoners concluded at the Ahmed Parvaiz Art Gallery of Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, with participation of two inmates in person.

Prisoners Muhammad Ijaz and Allah Wadayo were brought from the prison to the art exhibition to share their views.

Ijaz told an audience of city's leading intellectuals, "I am very happy to be among you people." Introducing himself as a life-sentence prisoner, Ijaz said he was incarcerated since 2014 and took up painting in 2017 gradually moving on to 3D genre. "I have come so far thanks to my teacher in jail. I have no words to describe my feelings," he said in a voice chocking with emotions.

Wadhayo said that he developed a passion for fine arts while in prison and got an opportunity to learn a lot in his hobby. "When you are doing time in prison, art is a great hobby to spend time."

Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that the Karachi Central Jail is a historical prison. Great personalities like Muhamamd Ali Johar, Shaukat Ali Jauhar, Fatima Jinnah, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Wali Khan, among many other dissidents have stayed here.

He said that the cells of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Faiz Ahmad Faiz should be named after them and the jail should have its own museum.

Renowned writer and intellectual Anwar Maqsood said, "I request the higher authorities to reduce the sentences of the prisoners who have displayed such beautiful art."

Superintendent Jail Hassan Sahito said his aim behind the exhibition was, "to tell the world that we, at the Karachi Central Jail, can send prisoners back in the society, as useful citizens."

Present at the closing ceremony were Sindh IGP Syed Anwar Mustafa, ex-IG Ghulam Nabi Memon, former provincial minister Saeed Ghani, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rahman, PPP senior leader Taj Haider, actor Sajid Hassan, MQM-P leader Nasreen Jali political and social figures and senior officers of the police department.

PPP leader Taj Haider said that this exhibition is a proof that the walls of the prison cannot imprison the creative mind of a person.
MQM-P leader Nisreen Jalil was of the view that beadwork and embroidery by the prisoners can be sold at exhibitions and on online stores to generate income, which can help their families.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2023.