Confab on prison reforms in June

NJPMC to promote policy dialogue on issue

ISLAMABAD:

Amid PTI's protests over the lack of legitimate rights for its detained leaders, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC), comprising all chief justices, has announced it will organise a National Conference on the "Prison Reforms Action Plan" in June to promote stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue as part of an inclusive reform process.

Last week, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired the 59th meeting of the NJPMC, which was attended by the chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court, the chief justices of all high courts, the attorney general for Pakistan, and the secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

During the meeting, the NJPMC reviewed progress on the implementation of the Prison Reform Action Plan, aimed at aligning Pakistan's prison system with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

It was noted that deliberations are actively underway within the provincial justice committees to ensure the adoption of effective, rights-based, and sustainable reform measures.

The NJPMC emphasised the need for a coordinated and harmonised approach to the implementation of the Prison Reform Action Plan, with particular focus on safeguarding prisoners' rights, improving detention conditions, and strengthening institutional accountability.

The NJPMC urged provincial justice committees to take proactive measures to secure ownership by provincial governments. It directed the LJCP Secretariat to organise a national conference on the Prison Reforms Action Plan in June 2026 to facilitate stakeholders' engagement and policy dialogue as part of an inclusive reform process.

It also directed that a concept note for the proposed conference, containing objectives, format and list of delegates, be prepared and shared with the high courts for input before finalisation.

The superior judiciary is planning to organise the national conference on jail reforms at a time when former prime minister Imran Khan, through his counsel, has alleged that he and his wife are being kept in "torturous solitary confinement" for almost 24 hours, with no access to books, TV, family or lawyers.

Barrister Taimur Malik, counsel for several incarcerated political prisoners including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry and Dr Yasmin Rashid, said that while it is positive that a Prison Reforms Action Plan is being considered, any such proposal would be inadequate if it does not address timely fixation of bail, suspension, and appeal applications of inmates.

He further said that prisons across Pakistan are overcrowded and that most issues the reform plan seeks to address stem from this condition.

Malik said there is a need to reduce the prison population, adding that many under-trial prisoners or those eligible for bail in bailable offences could be released pending trial.

Similarly, inmates qualifying for suspension of sentence on grounds such as age or health could also be released to lessen the burden on the prison system.

He cited the example of Ejaz Chaudhry, who has been diagnosed with stage-three kidney disease and whose health condition is not supported by the prison environment, yet whose suspension applications and appeals have not been fixed for hearing.

He also highlighted that Shah Mahmood Qureshi had been acquitted in all cases in the past three years but remained imprisoned due to a couple of pending bail matters.

On discouraging false and frivolous litigation, the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, who heads the relevant committee, apprised the NJPMC that work on suggesting a legislative and policy framework in line with the 'Cost of Litigation Act, 2017' (ICT) has begun and initial consultations have been held.

To make the process more inclusive, it was suggested that draft recommendations be shared with the Ministry of Law and Justice, provincial law departments and bar councils for feedback.

It was also suggested that the institutionalisation of adjournment costs be examined.

The NJPMC appreciated the committee's progress and reiterated its resolve that abuse of judicial processes must be discouraged through strict compliance with existing statutory and procedural provisions.

The attorney general for Pakistan, in his capacity as chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, assured that the bar council would be taken on board regarding mechanisms to address frequent strikes by lawyers, and the NJPMC will be apprised of progress in its next meeting.

In order to provide greater flexibility to families in scheduling visits, enhance parent-child interaction, reduce congestion in visitation facilities, and promote a more child-centred environment within the judicial system, the NJPMC approved child visitation facilities at district courts on closed holidays, subject to local requirements and administrative arrangements to be determined by the respective high courts.