Issues and Problems
Under the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan (Concurrent List) “Jail Matters” is the responsibility of Provincial Governments. However, the Federal Ministry of Interior with the consultation of Ministry of Law and Justice and National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) has made efforts to draft a comprehensive report on Prison Conditions and Prison Reforms which are yet to be fully implemented.
Developing an effective prison reform need to address these issues Jails of today are heavily overcrowded.
Jails have old and dilapidated facilities, often dating from the 19 century.
There is acute shortage of manpower.
Budget allocation is insufficient.
Security devices are very rare.
Amendment in Rules is required (Pakistan Prison Rules being 28 years old).
Training of Prison Staff at home and abroad is necessary.
Establishment of Medical Laboratories is important.
Water Treatment Plants need to be added;
HIV/Aids / Hepatitis issues need to be addressed on a priority basis;
Education Programs need to be introduced.
Remission Systems need to be liberalized by prison authorities.
The use of mobile phone needs to be stopped immediately and replaced with installation of PCOs/Booths.
Transport facilities need to be extended to prisons.
Causes which effect badly to reform prison
Issues Causes Effect
Overcrowding High proportion of Pretrial Prisoners
Under-utilization of
Parole & Probation
Provisions (see article in this issue)
Increasing Population of Addicts.
Prolonged Detention of Petty Cases
Non-Utilization of Open
Jails Congestion in Barracks / Cells
Poor Diet & Health Care Management
Un-hygienic & poor
sanitary conditions Increased Security and administrative problems.
Mal-administration Corruption / Extortion, Harassment and torture of Prisoners Over-fatigued Prison Staff
Lack of Recreational
Facilities
Un-organized
Educational Programmes
Un-attractive service structure and slow career progression of Prison
Staff
Low priority to training of prison staff Meager Budget Allocation;
More Nominations from Provinces for training at home (Common Training Programme at National
Level)
Consistent lapse of opportunities of Foreign Training
Full Activation of
Function No.28 of Interior Division of Rules of
Business
Special consideration for vulnerable prisoners.
Suggestions for improvement in Prison System
Following curative/ reformative steps are required to be taken to improve the conditions of the jails in the country:
Provision of funds for new construction / expansion of jails.
Number of Jails for juveniles and female prisoners is increased.
Prison Departments are actually understaffed. Keeping in view prison population, additional manpower is direly needed. This issue needs to be considered realistically.
Financial constraints be removed to entertain previous recommendations and to solve a lot of problems. Minor approvals can be granted through delegation of powers at the lower level.
The system of jail inspection be strengthened so that the judges of high courts and subordinate courts regularly visit jails and give on-the-spot instructions about the cases of under-trial prisoners.
Open Prisons be established at Divisional level with large chunks of agricultural lands for rehabilitation of prisoners before final release.
Federal Prison be established to deal with Prisoners under Federal Laws such as Drug Traffickers, Foreigners, Army Deserters, Tax Evaders, Loan Defaulters, Money Launderers (Accountability cases) etc.
The number of prisoners in a condemned (death) cell be according to the capacity of the cell.
Psychological counseling be provided to inmates which is extremely necessary.
The old record about admission, release and remission accounts of the prisoners be computerized for efficient administration of jails.
Prison staff be encouraged through better incentives of awards / prizes for their achievements and work of excellence.
The tendency of long period of posting at one place be immediately stopped or some policy be devised.
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