Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has remarked that jail administration was corrupt and if it was reformed then condition prevailing in jails would improve.
“Jail administration is corrupt. If management is reformed then condition of jails can be improved. The prevailing situation in the jails has reached such extreme that jail administration took bribe from a minister. Lady Warden took bribe to the tune of Rs 60,000 from a lady prisoner.”
“Prisoners are herded into jails like sheep and goats. Food and health facilities are next to nil therein. The prisoners who are wealthy make jails their home. The condition of those jail inmates who have no money is pitiable,” CJP said while presiding over a three-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of case regarding deplorable plight of jails.
Reports were presented by the provinces in respect of jails located in the respective provinces.
The court was informed about Peshawar jail that it had the capacity to accommodate 850 prisoners, but 1,743 prisoners had been kept there.
The other provinces also presented reports containing the number of jails and their inmates. There are over 800 jails across the country and thousands of prisoners are lodged therein. The trial situation is also not satisfactory as several prisoners have not been provided trial facility so far.
The court ordered provinces to enhance facilities for inmates of jails within three weeks, expedite provision of basic amenities to them and gear up the process of trial of prisoners. The subordinate judiciary should dispose off cases pertaining to the prisoners early in line with judicial policy, the court further ordered.
The CJP remarked, “Copies of decision be sent to registrars of all the four provincial high courts to review the matters.”
The court adjourned the hearing of the case for three weeks.