Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Adiala Jail administration is endeavouring to transform the prison into a reform centre for betterment of prisoners as well as staff. This was said in the Adiayal Jail Annual Report 2016 released on Monday. It was revealed that 15 literacy classes were held in the jail last year in which some 308 jailbirds were imparted education. In November 2016, 13 new classes were started in which some 268 prisoners received formal education.

Moreover, two prisoners passed master degree examination, 15 completed their graduation degree, 13 passed secondary level studies and 11 have passed matriculation. Similarly seven of them did Fazil Urdu, two cleared Advance Arabic Course and 23 prisoners recited Holy Quran with Urdu translation. Some 32 recited Holy Quran and 67 completed Taleem-ul-Quran Course during the last year. The report also said that technical training was also being provided to the inmates in collaboration with the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA). In three sessions, some 198 male detainees and 94 female prisoners successfully passed exams of electrician, motor winding, welding, beautician and domestic tailoring. The Women Aid Trust, a non-governmental organisation, provided assistance in construction of new classrooms for the underage prisoners in which 71 minor inmates learned tailoring and about 22 received computer training.

The report also showed that 10 prisoners were executed in Adiala Jail during 2016 and capital punishment for 66 prisoners was changed into life-term sentence. Free legal aid was also provided to 19 prisoners, whereas 1,053 jailbirds were freed from after completing their punishment. The report said that four male and three female foreign prisoners were released from Adiala Jail.