Daily Times

Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat has started implementation process of the recommendations which have been already been endorsed by Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan for improving jails conditions in Pakistan.

A meeting for provision of medical facilities to prisoners was held with the Academic Council of University of Health Sciences (UHS) for provision of medical facilities to prisoners in different jails of Punjab, Balochistan and AJK. The meeting was attended by Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, Senior Advisor (Law)/Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, Mr. Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor, UHS, Lahore, Vice Chancellors and Principals of government as well as private Medical Colleges of Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir.

Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, Senior Advisor (Law)/Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, gave a detailed presentation about the recommendations of Federal Ombudsman duly endorsed by Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan for improving jails conditions in Pakistan. He stated that recommendations have been made in pursuance of Supreme Court orders which include: establishment of district oversight committees for the welfare of prisoners, establishment of jail in every District Headquarter and by the Federal Government in Islamabad. Proposals for significant expansion of probation / parole facilities to reduce pressure on accommodation facilities in jails, automation to ensure development of interface among jails, courts and NADRA for monitoring and verification of the prisoners record, formal education and skill training facilities for prisoners, allocation of funds and resources for improvement in jails, free legal aid especially to under trial prisoners and for appeal propose.

Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, Senior Advisor (Law)/Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis apprised the participants that Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat has already taken steps in jails for provision of technical and formal education, no examination fee for prisoners, payment of Diyat / fines to deserving prisoners, repairing Borstal school building in Faisalabad, gifts for women prisoners and Juvenile, and provision of beds to female prisoners.

All participants and Principals of Medical Colleges were willing for provision of health cavities to the jails situated in their areas. Vice Chancellor, UHS appreciated the efforts of Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Secretariat for improving health conditions in jails and showed his full support for implementation of recommendations related to health facilities. It was decided that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Office of the Federal Ombudsman and University of Health Sciences for providing health facilities in jails. University of Health Sciences (UHS) will plan for screening of ailing prisoners and medical campaigns for all jails and would submit their action plan to Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat.

MoU will be signed within couple of weeks and this would be a big breakthrough for provision of health facilities to the prisoners.