Female prisoners bear inhumane treatment

Universal prisoners’ rights dictate that all prisoners must be treated with respect whilst being guaranteed fundamental survival necessities like good nutrition and healthcare. Yet for the majority of under-trial female prisoners across the province facing the persistent threat of harassment, constant risk of disease and an indefinite judicial remand period, the converse appears to be true.

Two female prisoners who had been on judicial remand across various jails for more than a year revealed that the staff would frequently harass them every night under the pretext of checking. “We were searched in a brazen manner before we were to appear in front of the court.

On the occasion of the Superintendent's visit to the jail, we were made to stand outside the barrack for hours. Food and drink supplies were limited while even basic painkillers were not available. The degree of mistreatment was such that whenever a delegation of domestic and foreign NGOs would visit the prison, the prisoners were forced to keep quiet about their problems,” disclosed the two women, who felt that female prisoners were treated inhumanely. 

According to Rabia Bajwa, a lawyer, female inmates faced severe discrimination in prisons. “While some women are sexually exploited by the jail staff many others fall prey to various infections like jaundice, tuberculosis, and cholera. Unfortunately, timely medical facilities are lacking while pregnant prisoners do not receive adequate nutrition or medical care either” said Bajwa, who is also the former Vice President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.

Bajwa further pointed out the fact that female prisoners were often deprived of timely legal assistance, which delayed their cases, leaving them without bail. “Since the government lacks a proper institution to provide legal aid to these women, their cases remain unresolved for several years. To add to their isolation, some female prisoners living in jails have been abandoned by their families while many others have been divorced by their husbands as a result of which they end up with psychological illnesses,” explained Bajwa.

According to documents obtained by the Express Tribune, there are currently around 1,200 female prisoners across 43 jails in Punjab, out of which 75 per cent or 900 women are under trial or judicial remand across 27 different jails, with Central Jail Adiala holding the highest number of under-trial female prisoners, 196, followed by Central Jail Kot Lakhpat which keeps 188 women.

Amna Malik, Head of an NGO working for the rights of female prisoners confirmed that the condition of women in prisons was deplorable. “Health issues such as allergies, itching, asthma and other skin diseases are more prevalent among female prisoners since women’s prisons lack female doctors. We have raised our voice on this issue several times, but no response has been received from the government,” complained Malik.

"Earlier, many complaints were received regarding sexual harassment however, due to CCTV cameras, now the complaints have reduced,” claimed Naseem Khan, Former Jail Superintendent, who was quick to concede that there was still a need to improve the system of checks and balances in prisons to solve the problems of female prisoners.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, DIG Headquarters Jails Punjab Mian Salik Jalal assured that women on judicial remand were able to share their problems, which were promptly resolved. “Most of the problems concern the provision of food and drink or barrack change. Women on judicial remand are produced in court after 15 days,” said Jalal.