BAHAWALPUR, Jan 24: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has given out in its report that the country's 87 jails are overcrowded.
According to the report received here on Monday, the 31 jails in Punjab have a capacity of 1,763 inmates, but three times more prisoners have been lodged there.
It says that one-fourth out of them have been convicted while the remaining two-third are under-trial prisoners. In addition, the report claims that about one million families are awaiting justice from courts throughout the country.
Moreover, about 6,500 convicts are waiting for execution while five condemned prisoners have been lodged in each of the death cell due to the shortage of accommodation. It is further reported that over 4,000 minors and 2,500 women prisoners have been lodged in jails across the country.
LOW GAS PRESSURE: Despite the claim of SNGPL, the full supply of gas has not so far been restored even for the domestic use in Bahawalpur. Due to low gas pressure, the housewives have to wait for cooking for hours.
Public circles have expressed their concern over the short supply of gas urging the officials concerned to restore the full supply of gas. When contacted, the local SNGPL regional office denied that any gas load shedding was being conducted. In any case, they said that the normal supply would take some more days.
JEEP RALLY: Arrangements are afoot to organize a three-day desert jeep rally from March 15 to 17 in Cholistan. The rally will terminate at historic Derawar Fort, about 70 kilometres from here in the Cholistan desert. A colourful function will mark the culmination of the rally at the fort. The organizers have fixed Rs10,000 entry fee.
LAB: A print media laboratory will be set up in the Mass Communication Department of Islamia University. A memorandum of understanding was also signed here the other day between the university and Bahria Town. Islamia University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Munir Akhtar and Bahria Town's deputy chief executive Ahmed Ali Riaz signed the MoU.
Under the agreement, the media laboratory would be established at a cost of Rs7 million. The Bahria Town will also give away a gold medal and cash prize of Rs20,000 each for the top position holders of MA and M.Phil students annually.
