Handcuffing of female prisoners banned

RAWALPINDI:

A major action has been taken following a report published in The Express Tribune about female accused prisoners being brought from Adiala Jail to courts in the district courts complex with both hands handcuffed in violation of the law.

Taking notice of the matter, the Special Judge Anti-Narcotics declared the order issued by a senior police officer to handcuff female prisoners illegal and questioned the police official concerned.

The practice of handcuffing all female accused prisoners has subsequently been discontinued, restoring the previous system under which women are produced before sessions courts, civil courts, magistrates and special courts across the district without handcuffs.

Female prisoners have expressed happiness over the decision. Across the country, women are generally produced before courts without handcuffs. However, in Rawalpindi district alone, an authorised senior police officer had issued an order directing that female accused be handcuffed by both hands over fears that they might escape while being transported from jail to court.