ISLAMABAD, Nov 2: Raja Anwar, in his book Bari Jail Se Choti Jail Tak, states that a prison is a microcosm of the society and reflects the grief, adversity and hopelessness which are an integral part of the society.

The same was reiterated by speakers at a workshop titled ‘Prisoner’s vulnerability - lacking awareness’ held at the Federal Judicial Academy Islamabad on Saturday.

The occasion was also the silver jubilee of the academy.

The aim of the daylong workshop was to apprise participants of the prisoners’ rights and how these rights were being flouted in Pakistan.

Furthermore, the workshop was tasked to formulate recommendations to help improve conditions of the prisoners.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was the chief guest on the occasion and speakers included chief justices, senior judges and members of bar associations from the Supreme Court and all high courts.

Addressing the participants, the CJP said that inhumane treatment was meted out to prisoners with the view that they had committed heinous crimes and deserved no pity.

However, he said prisoners were also human and had a certain dignity which was provided by the Constitution.

“Prisoners should be provided with an environment to make them more productive and help them contribute to the society,” he said.

Speakers were then divided in four thematic groups with each group discussing policies to ensure prisoners were treated humanely.

While discussing the problems prisoners in Pakistan faced, Supreme Court Judge Justice Mushir Alam said a prisoner was not sentenced correctly as harsh judgments were often handed over for petty crimes.

He maintained that prisoners were confined to secrecy, away from the society’s surveillance, and were not aware of their rights.

They had no counseling because of which they suffered inhumane treatment without protesting.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Jawad S. Khawaja elaborated on the cruelty, harassment and labour which inmates had to deal with.

He also pointed out administrative problems faced by prisoners.

Similarly, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), giving example of Punjab, said there were 28 prisons in the province before independence and seven decades later, the total number of prisons was only 32.

Therefore, 52,318 prisoners were forced to languish in Punjab jails which had a total capacity of only 21,527 inmates.

Other speakers in different sessions discussed issues regarding health, food quality, hygiene and corruption by the jail staff.

Recommendations by participants were also given to ensure proper treatment of prisoners.

These included segregation of women prisoners, provision of quality food, literature and recreational exercises, and special inspections by officials in the judiciary.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Nasirul Mulk stressed on the rehabilitation of prisoners in the society which had so far been neglected.

Participants at the session suggested a separate workshop for women prisoners so that they could openly state the problems they were facing.

The general ambience of the discussions was serious as even after the sessions concluded, the participants continued to informally discuss possible solutions to ensuring proper treatment of prisoners.

Justice Nasirul Mulk, when contacted, said the recommendations would be forwarded to the departments concerned, and a follow-up would be ensured so that the exercise does not prove futile.

Similarly, while talking to Dawn, Azad Kashmir High Court Judge Justice Azhar Salim said the workshop was a necessary and timely step to ensure the rights of prisoners which had been put on the backburner since 1947.

“I have visited various jails and the condition there is pathetic. They are overcrowded and inmates are subjected to torture. I believe the convicts and under-trial prisoners should be lodged separately as the latter is extremely vulnerable to maltreatment,” he said.

Dr Ghazi Shahid, a representative of Piyas International, an NGO working for prisoners’ rights, also briefed participants of the problems faced by inmates. He said the jail staff only showed various sections of the jails to inspection officers to prove “all is good”.

Certain ex-prisoners were also invited to attend the workshop and share their experiences.

Fazal Karim, who had served more than eight years in prison, said drug abuse was common among inmates.

He added that corruption and torture was also rampant in the prison, but officials concerned did not try to stop the practice.

His remarks were seconded by other former convicts as well.

On the other hand, a senior official of a prison department, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that the prison department had been neglected in the past.

“Frankly, this is the first time the prison department and its role have ever been discussed. This workshop will have positive consequences and eventually help improve the conditions in prisons,” he said.

When asked about the problems faced by prison guards, he said they lacked training and resources, and were unable to realise their role in reforming prisoners.

He added that constant security threats, poor salary, weak service structure and lack of investment in the prison department had promoted corruption and dual standards in prisons.