Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) is disturbed over lack of facilities in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi for the prisoners.

NCHR Chairman Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chauhan, through an official letter issued on Tuesday, instructed the commission members Fazila Aliani and Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique to make a personal visit to the jail to examine the provision of facilities for the convicts.

He directed to compile a report regarding this issue to take further action in this regard.

When contacted, Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chauhan confirmed the development and said that the persons behind bars are also human beings and should be treated like one.

He cited Section 9 of the NCHR Act, which states that the commission can investigate any jail or detention centre which is susceptible to human rights violations.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Commission or any person authorised by it may visit any jail, place of detention or any other institution or place under the control of the Government or its agencies, where convicts, under trial prisoners, detainees or other persons are lodged or detained for purposes of ascertaining the legality of their detention as well as to find out whether the provisions of the applicable laws or other provisions relating to the inmates living conditions and their other rights are being complied with,” reads the Section 9 of the Act.

The chairman, however, said that the directions have been made on some media reports regarding poor facilities in Adiala Jail.

According to the details, the issue of shortage of facilities in Adiala Jail was reported in March. However, since former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law were sent there, the issue occurred most overwhelming and much discussed in all sectors including media and in a specific political group as former chief minister Punjab and president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Shehbaz Sharif expressed his serious reservations a couple of days ago over this issue.

Furthermore, according to a report compiled by human rights organisation Global Foundation, there were numerous problems faced by the prisoners in Adiala Jail.

It said that there was a capacity of 1,894 prisoners but at present 6,021 prisoners are languishing in the jail as it consists of 64 cells with the capacity of 36 prisoners while 72 to 85 prisoners are packed into each room. It revealed that due to lack of space, brawls among prisoners have become a routine.

“A total amount of Rs 250 million was allocated in the budget for Adiala Jail, which was insufficient to meet its demands,” the report says.

There are all types of prisoners in the jail, including convicts, accused, juveniles, foreigners, extremists, female prisoners as well as their infants.

The report said that the country’s Constitution provides rights of provision of food, clothes and medicines in prison while the government is supposed to fulfill all these needs of the convicts in jail.

Besides, it maintained that the jail covers 700 kanal land out of which 450 kanals for prisoners, 40 kanals for high security zone, 90 kanals for agricultural purposes, 50 kanals for sowing vegetables and remaining land is reserved for servants.

Furthermore, there were only two doctors for 6,021 prisoners whereas the duties of nurses were being performed by the prisoners. He said that the condition of death-sentence prisoners was the most pathetic.

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.