February 20, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 18, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: An inadequate number of jails and staff, and the slow disposal of criminal cases are the main hurdles in the implementation of jail reforms.

These observations were made in a meeting held here on Tuesday to discuss jail reforms. The meeting was presided over interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat.

Principal, National Jail Training Institute (NJTI), Brig M. Zafar Ahmed gave a detailed briefing on jail reforms and the impediments in its implementation. Inspectors-General Jail of Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP attended the meeting.

Speaking on this occasion, the interior minister emphasized the need for the prompt implementation of reforms.

In order to reduce overcrowding in jail, the minister directed that new jails should be established in every district with additional accommodation facilities.

He said parole and probation facilities should be encouraged and the system simplified to reduce congestion and provide the prisoners the opportunity to reform themselves.

Mr Hayat said the dispensation of justice would be expedited. The law ministry would be asked to play its role in this regard.

He said existing jails will be reactivated and new ones should be established on regional basis.

The minister said courts exercising jurisdiction would be asked to liberally grant bails to drug addicts and women prisoners and their babies.

He directed that drug addicts should be dealt with separately in all judicial proceedings and women prisoners over 50 years of age except those involved in murder cases should be released on bail.

He said Hadood cases should be decided within four months.

“Those women and addicts, confined for nonpayment of fine or compensation, should be released through the assistance of volunteer associations,” he added.

The minister directed jail authorities to make arrangements to segregate vulnerable prisoners like women, juveniles, addicts, foreigners, mentally-retarded and condemned prisoners.

To place checks on the use of discretionary powers by the jail superintendents, he said prisoners should have a liberal right of appeal against major penalty to inspector-general prisons.

Similarly, all punishments awarded by the superintendent jail had to be checked by a board comprising sessions judge, DIG prisons and superintendent jail, the minister said.

He said an interview system of families would be improved by allowing interviews of under-trials twice a week and convicts once in a week.

The meeting decided that contract system of all purchases of food and other materials will be improved and subjected to strict checks.

It decided that drug addicts would not be sent to jail for being self-victims but they would be sent to rehabilitation centres to be established under the social welfare departments.

It was emphasized that a skills development centre should be established in every jail for the rehabilitation of prisoners, service structure of jail staff should be upgraded.