Adiala inmates complain of food restrictions

RAWALPINDI:

Male and female prisoners brought daily from Central Jail Adiala to the Judicial Complex and District Courts for hearings have complained that facilities inside the jail are being curtailed.

They said restrictions had now been imposed on bringing tomatoes, spices, rice, lentils, packaged milk and juices from home.

According to the prisoners, the curry served in jail consists almost entirely of watery gravy, with two small potatoes and a bowl of bland broth. They used to bring tomatoes and spices from home to improve its taste, but these items had also been banned.

Packaged milk and juices are available inside the jail at three times their market price, they claimed, adding that no change was returned after payments. They said they had previously obtained packaged milk, juices and tomatoes from their homes, but this facility had now been discontinued.

They further complained that women prisoners accompanied by one or two young children were not provided food for the children.

Only one piece of bread was given to the mother, forcing her either to remain hungry or to ask other, better-off female prisoners for some of their bread.

Relatives of the prisoners, including Riaz Ali, Faisal Khan and Azhar Ali, demanded that facilities be improved for inmates.