Judicial lock-up facilities to be expanded

Rs48.366m project to be completed within six months

RAWALPINDI:

The expansion and renovation project of the judicial lock-up (Bakhshi Khana) at the Rawalpindi Judicial Complex has been approved.

The lock-up is used as a temporary holding facility for accused persons brought from Adiala Jail for court appearances.

The existing lock-up has become problematic due to insufficient capacity and limited facilities. The expansion project will cost a total of Rs48.366 million and is scheduled to be completed within six months.

Under the project, facilities including drinking water, washrooms, seating arrangements, fans, paintwork and an additional hall-style room will be constructed. Security arrangements at the lock-up will also be enhanced.

According to the superintendent engineer of the building branch, the contract for the project will be awarded on February 11, and the contractor will be bound to complete the work within six months.

At present, Rawalpindi has two judicial lock-ups — one at the old Kacheri and the other at the Judicial Complex.

The old Kacheri lock-up houses accused appearing before NAB courts, Anti-Narcotics Court, Customs Court, Banking Crimes Court, Drugs Court, Special Judge Central FIA Court and Anti-Corruption Court. Accused appearing before sessions and civil courts are kept at the Judicial Complex lock-up.

The Anti-Terrorism Court has a separate lock-up, whose renovation and expansion is in the final stages. On average, 40 to 70 accused are brought daily to the old Kacheri lock-up, 250 to 350 to the Judicial Complex lock-up, and 15 to 30 accused to the Anti-Terrorism Court from jail.