Managing cells: GCF members discuss prison problems with additional home secretary

Prisoners to receive six-month vocational training

PESHAWAR: The department of home and tribal affairs initiated a number of steps to improve the conditions of prisons and resolve boarding problems faced by inmates.

A joint working plan in collaboration with Government Citizen Forum (GCF) was proposed in a meeting held with Additional Home Secretary Siraj Ahmad Khan on Wednesday.

At the beginning of the meeting, GCF members were informed the government had already drafted a plan to tackle the issue of overcrowding in various jails. Additional Secretary Shafeerullah Wazir said the present population of all prison houses in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was above 10,000 whereas their capacity was only 6,000 prisoners.

Wazir also said 5,000 prisoners were fit for release and around 2,400 prisoners were under trial. To discuss this matter, Qazir informed a meeting was scheduled with Peshawar High Court Registrar on November 28.



“After releasing 7,000 prisoners, the provincial government can be in a better position to address the accommodation issue,” he added.

Siraj Ahmad said work on high security prison house in Mardan was completed which meant accommodation issue in other jails will be resolved.

In light of the proposal put forward by GCF members, he assured an early meeting with Inspector General Prison department will be arranged. Siraj Ahmad also suggested making experienced police official Waqar member of the forum since he could make valuable contribution to the process of reforms and rehabilitation of prisoners.

GCF members including Haji Mohammad Javed, Bahramand Khan Tangi, Rubina Maseeh, Advocate Rukhshanda Naaz, Khan Mohammad and others discussed their proposed plan to help inmates at Peshawar Central Prison.

The plan included a detailed six-month vocational training period for at least 500 prisoners where male prisoners will be taught tailoring and electrician skills and women prisoners will be taught sewing and garment making.

Pioneers of the plan, Haji Mohammad Javed and Bahramand Khan Tangi, said this process would enable prisoners from low or no income bracket to assist their families.

Senior journalist Saadia Qasim Shah, Khan Mohammad, Dania Ghareeb and Additional Secretary Arif Khattak also made detailed presentations regarding arrangements for resolving skin diseases, issues of drainage, sanitation, clean drinking water and general hygiene. They also gave a presentation regarding Model Police Station which will be discussed in GCF’s next meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2015.