'May 9 convicts' treated as per jail manual'

Punjab govt submits reports from three prisons to SC

ISLAMABAD:

ISLAMABAD

Administrations of three prisons in Punjab have dismissed the claim that the people handed over to their custody after their conviction by military courts in May 9 cases are not getting facilities as per jail manuals.

The Punjab government has submitted to the Supreme Court reports of the Central Jail Lahore, Central Jail Rawalpindi and the Central Jail Multan where people sentenced by military court last month are serving their time.

During hearing of the military courts case on January 7, Hafeezullah Niazi, PTI founder Imran Khan's brother-in-law and father of a May 9 convict Hassaan Niazi, told the SC's Constitutional Bench (CB) that the May 9 prisoners in Lahore were held in a high-security zone without rights under the jail manual.

The CB had directed the Punjab government to respond to these allegations.

The provincial government on Thursday submitted to the SC the reports from the three prisons where such convicts are detained, stating that all the prisoners were getting the facilities they are entitled to.

According to the report filed by the superintendent of the Central Jail Lahore also known as Kot Lakhpat Jail, all the May 9 prisoners are being dealt with in accordance with the Prisons Rules, 1978.

"At the time of admission into the jail, the initial medical screening/examination of all the said convicted prisoners was made by the medical officer of this jail.

"The necessary bedding--blanket and sleeping cotton mats—have been provided by the jail administration while twelve prisoners have their own mattresses in their barracks provided by their family members at the time of interview."

It claimed that all these prisoners are open during the day time—from morning to evening—in front of their barrack area for strolling and to enjoy sunlight in the courtyard.

"Fresh, hot and hygienic food is served three times in a day as per the approved diet menu by the Government of the Punjab. The facility of clean/filtered drinking water is also available to the prisoners.

"The necessary utensils for eating food and tea have been provided by the jail administration while basic hygiene kits both for oral health and for personal hygiene have been provided.

It said all the above prisoners are confined in a large roomy association barrack with ample ventilation–multiple windows are installed for sunlight and ventilation.

"The facility of [meeting] with family members as well as their legal counsels has been extended [on Friday]. On the scheduled day, the interview facility is available to all the prisoners without any hurdle.

"On the day of interview, the family members are also allowed to bring home food, fruits and other permitted eatable items. Almost all the above said prisoners have availed the facility of interview since their admission into the jail

According to the report, an outlet of the Utility Stores Corporation is also established in the waiting shed of the jail, and the prisoners are at liberty to place the order at their own expense for any packed food item and other daily usable items available at the outlet.

The medical staff is available round the clock to address any medical issue of any prisoner, it added.

Almost similar reports have been submitted by the Central Jail Rawalpindi, also known as Adiala Jail and the Central Jail Multan.