LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Saturday chaired a session in Lahore inaugurating discussion for developing “National Jail Reform Policy” focusing on prison reforms and the welfare of inmates.

The participants in the consultative meeting included Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, LHC administrative judge Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, the provincial secretaries of the home and prosecution departments, inspectors general of police and prisons departments, the secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), the superintendent of central prison Lahore and human rights activist Saima Amin Khawaja.

Members from both treasury and opposition political parties — PML-N Senator Ahad Khan Cheema and PTI activist Khadija Shah — who underwent incarceration in jail also attended the meeting on a special invite.

Senator Cheema, a former bureaucrat, was initially arrested by the NAB in 2018 following references of illegal assets and the Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing scheme against him. He remained in jail till 2021 when the Supreme Court granted him bail. Later, he was acquitted of the charges in all cases filed against him.

Forms panel to inspect prisons; series of meetings to continue in other cities

Ms Shah, a fashion designer and granddaughter of former army chief Asif Nawaz Janjua, was arrested following the registration of cases of May 9 riots against the PTI leaders and workers. She was released on bail in December last year.

Chief Justice Afridi shared his vision for modernising Pakistan’s criminal justice system, stressing that a humane and effective prison system is essential to ensure a fair legal framework, said a statement issued by the LJCP.

He noted that data collected by the LJCP reveals a deeply concerning situation nationwide, with 108,643 inmates housed in facilities with an authorised capacity of only 66,625.

The data shows Punjab faces particularly severe challenges, with 67,837 prisoners confined in prisons built to accommodate just 36,365. Of them 36,128 are under-trial prisoners, many of whom have been awaiting trial for over a year.

The CJP emphasised the importance of addressing these urgent issues in Punjab, beginning a phased approach that will ultimately extend to the entire country. He said the series of consultative meetings, which started in Lahore, will continue across other cities in Pakistan to gather insights and build consensus on reform initiatives.

The agenda centered on the LJCP’s proposal, a National Jail Reform Policy in alignment with international standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, Bangkok Rules, and Beijing Rules, to ensure humane and rehabilitative management across Pakistan’s correctional facilities.

The meeting participants also discussed the possibility of establishing a jail reforms committee, aimed at developing strategies to reduce overcrowding, enhance inmate welfare, and improve case processing efficiency.

The CJP constituted a sub-committee comprising retired justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi, Ms Khawaja, Senator Cheema and Ms Shah to inspect the jails across the province and to give recommendations to streamline processes to address the high numbers of under-trial prisoners and promote alternative sentencing options, including community service and probation.

The statement said, under the guidance of Chief Justice Afridi, and with the dedicated data collection and analytical support provided by the LJCP, these initiatives are intended to bring about transformative, systemic improvements within Pakistan’s prison system.

By prioritising humane treatment, rehabilitation, and efficient case management, this collaborative framework will set the stage for a sustainable and just prison system that upholds human dignity and fosters rehabilitation across the nation, it concludes.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024