Provincial Minister for Minorities & Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said that even prisoners have the right to enjoy Christmas celebrations. He added that prisoners are an important part of society who can play a pivotal role in the progress of the country after their reform through training programs and other initiatives launched by Punjab government for the betterment of prisons in Punjab.
He stated this in a ceremony in connection with Christmas celebrations at Central Jail Kot Lakhpat where he distributed Christmas gifts, clothes, and sweets to Christian prisoners, and shared a Christmas cake with them.
Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazir, MPA Shahzad Munshi, Prisons Deputy IG Malik Mubashar Ahmed Khan, Jail Superintendent Ijaz Asghar, jail staff and media were also present.
The minister said that Christmas provides an opportunity for happiness and compassion.
“We should hate crime and not those who have committed the crime,” Sandhu said.
He said that the Punjab government has initiated reform based different training programs for the prisoners throughout the province. He said that he will request the chief minister for the release of some Christian prisoners on the occasion of Christmas.
He further said that he will work for the release of petty criminals by payment of their fines with the help of philanthropists.
Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazir said that the Punjab Prison Department has taken positive steps toward the reform of prisons through enhancement of medical facilities, installation of filtration plants and PCOs, computerization of prisoner data, improving food quality, and ensuring timely hearing of cases.
Prisons Deputy IG Malik Mubashar Ahmed Khan and Superintendent Jail Ijaz Asghar also addressed the ceremony.
Minorities Minister Khalil Tahir Sandhu visited different sections of the prison and lauded the efforts of the jail administration for the provision of better facilities to the prisoners, particularly the vocational training being given to female prisoners.