CJP's help sought to access Imran

Jail reforms panel says cannot give insight on inmates' plight without meeting PTI founder

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RAWALPINDI:

The Jail Reforms Sub-Committee has sought the Chief Justice of Pakistan's (CJP) intervention for a members' meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in prison.

In a letter written by sub-committee member Khadija Shah to CJP Yahya Afridi, she pointed out that the Jail Reforms Committee could not give its insight on the plight of inmates in prisons without meeting Imran Khan and reviewing the facilities provided to the former prime minister.

Narrating the events during the committee's meeting at Adiala Jail, she mentioned that special cleanliness measures had been taken by the jail staff for the committee's visit, that committee members had visited the jail hospital and the barracks of women prisoners, drug addicts and those facing mental health problems, and met with prisoners on death row.

However, she said, when the committee had requested jail authorities to take the members to the PTI founder's cell, they had not been allowed to visit it.

Khadija Shah requested the CJP to direct jail authorities to give committee members access to the PTI founder as the committee could not give its insight on the condition of prisoners without meeting Imran Khan.

The committee also visited the Kot Lakhpat Jail and obtained feedback from Dr Yasmin Rashid, Alia Hamza and other prisoners.

Adiala Jail authorities, however, said that they had not stopped Jail Reforms Sub Committee members from meeting anyone, adding that during the committee's visit, the PTI founder had been appearing before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court which did not come under the ambit of the jail authorities.

In November, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi had led an inaugural meeting on the reformation of Pakistan's prison system.

The participants of the meeting had included Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, Administrative Judge Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, officials from the Home and Prosecution Departments, police, prison authorities, and human rights activist Saima Amin Khawaja.

Members of both treasury and opposition parties, including Senator Ahad Khan Cheema and Khadijah Shah, also contributed to the meeting bringing in personal insights from time spent in prison.

This session initiated discussions for a National Jail Reform Policy focused on inmate welfare and aligning with international standards such as the Nelson Mandela, Bangkok, and Beijing Rules.

Chief Justice Afridi highlighted Pakistan's overcrowded prison conditions, referencing data from the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), which shows a national inmate population of over 108,000 against a capacity of 66,625.