ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M. Mazari on Monday said there should be separate cells in prisons for transgender community and people with disabilities to cater to their needs.

Chairing a meeting held to fianlise the report of a commission constituted by Islamabad High Court (IHC) on jail reforms, the minister also instructed the participants to operationalise the recommendations in their respective provinces.

Human Rights Secretary Rabiya Javeri Agha briefed the participants about the recommendations.

She said the recommendations were based on Nelson Mandela guidelines adopted by the United Nations (UN) and Bangkok rules which dealt with women prisoners.

The main recommendations included capacity building of jail staff and filling of vacant posts of doctors in the prisons.

Meeting finalises jail reforms report of commission constituted by IHC

The report will be submitted to the IHC before Jan 18. The commission was formed on a writ petition filed in the IHC by Khadim Hussain, a prisoner at the Central Jail Adiala, after he lost his eyesight due to failure and negligence of the prison authorities.

After hearing the plight of the prisoner, the court constituted the commission chaired by the minister for human rights to investigate human rights violations in prisons of Pakistan and lack of medical assistance and obstacles in access to courts by prisoners who do not have means or assistance.

The commission was to investigate failure on part of the executive authorities and respective governments to fulfil obligations and enforce the Prison Rules and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 relating to prisoners who suffer from illnesses and diseases.

It was also tasked with carrying out a review of the prison rules and other relevant laws for fulfilling commitments of the state, international treaties and conventions.

Besides, it was also to come up with proposals to deal with human rights violations in prisons and amendments to any law, rules or regulations.

Proposals regarding appropriate governance and management systems were also to be filed and how to ensure individual and institutional accountability.

The commission comprised the federal minister for human rights (chairperson), secretaries of the ministries of human rights, interior, health, former chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, Zia Awan Advocate of the Supreme Court, former director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Tariq Khosa and all the provincial chief secretaries.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020