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| September 20, 2003 | Saturday | Rajab 22, 1424 |
Kasur district jail overcrowded
KASUR, Sept 19: As many as 1,551 prisoners are housed in the district jail, which was built to accommodate only 446.
According to a survey, the Kasur jail, built in 1929, spreads over 32 acres and one and a half kanals. The building spreads over 8.5 acres, while 16 acres are used for agriculture purposes.
There are nine barracks, four of which are for women and two for prisoners on death row. There are 16 cells for those convicted of heinous crimes, while four are under construction.
There are 32 quarters for jail staff and housing for the superintendent, deputy superintendents, medical officer and two assistant superintendents.
Of the 1,551 prisoners in the facility, 132 are on death row, 18 are women with their five children, while there are 70 young offenders under the age of 18.
Prisoners are served beef on Mondays and Thursdays and pulses or vegetables on other days, while tea and bread is the standard breakfast.
There is just one doctor for the inmates, who has been recently transferred, and the one currently employed comes from the Kasur District Headquarters Hospital under a temporary arrangement.
There is shortage of staff, a situation further aggravated by the suspension of one out of two deputy superintendents as well as an assistant superintendent.
A prison with inmates cooped together in close proximity, with petty thieves rubbing shoulders with hard core criminals in an overcrowded, understaffed facility — is a recipe for disaster.
The cash-strapped authorities probably have a plethora of problems, but they must nevertheless increase the number of barracks, improve facilities and post the necessary staff at the earliest.—APP
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