ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued strict directions to ensure the completion of the Islamabad Model Jail by June 30, 2026, underscoring that no further delays will be tolerated in this major public sector project.

The directive was issued during a meeting of the Justice Committee for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), chaired by Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, held at the IHC on Thursday.

During the meeting, officials from the office of the chief commissioner ICT briefed the committee on the progress of the Model Jail project. It was reported that 85 per cent of the physical construction work has been completed, while 15 per cent of the financial progress remains. The project is currently in its final phase, with the completion deadline set for June 30, 2026.

The chief Justice expressed strong concern over potential delays and directed authorities to accelerate the remaining construction work to ensure the jail is completed within the stipulated timeframe. He emphasised that all logistical arrangements, including the deployment and training of jail staff, should be finalised alongside construction so that the transfer of prisoners from existing facilities can begin from July 1, 2026, without disruption.

Court observes no further delays will be tolerated in the public sector project

To resolve financial and administrative challenges, the chief justice instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior to coordinate closely with the secretary of finance. It was also decided that the finance secretary will be invited to the next meeting of the Justice Committee to facilitate timely decision-making and ensure the availability of required resources.

The Islamabad Model Jail project is a key component of broader prison reforms under the National Prison Reform Action Plan, which seeks to modernize prison infrastructure, improve inmate welfare, strengthen rehabilitation mechanisms and ensure compliance with human rights standards. A consolidated report submitted by the Jail Reform Sub-Committee was discussed and acknowledged as a significant framework for improving prison administration.

In addition to prison reforms, the committee also reviewed the law and order situation in Islamabad, with the chief justice expressing serious concern over the rising crime rate in ICT, particularly cases related to theft, road accidents and sexual assault. He emphasised that criminal investigations must be conducted thoroughly and professionally to ensure that offenders are brought to justice and innocent individuals are not wrongly implicated.

The chief justice stressed the importance of obtaining forensic laboratory reports in rape cases to strengthen evidence and improve conviction rates. He also directed that training programs be organised for investigating officers to enhance their capacity in collecting credible and incriminating evidence, thereby improving overall investigation standards.

The meeting also focused on the Digital and Safe City Surveillance Mechanism, where it was disclosed that approximately 35 per cent of critical areas in ICT are currently covered by CCTV surveillance, including red zones, highways, and other sensitive locations. According to the latest data, 19,692 individuals and 15,779 vehicles have been screened through surveillance efforts, resulting in the recovery of 17 stolen vehicles and the identification of 15 proclaimed offenders.

To further strengthen monitoring and crime detection, officials informed the committee that the installation of AI-integrated surveillance cameras is underway, which is expected to enhance real-time tracking, facial recognition, and rapid law enforcement response.

The chief justice also directed authorities to improve police deployment in sensitive areas, including the Red Zone, and to strengthen security arrangements at the IHC, District Judicial Complex, Federal Judicial Complex and residences of judges. He called for continuous monitoring and periodic review of security measures in coordination with ICT police and other relevant departments.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, additional secretary Ministry of Interior, chief commissioner ICT, inspector general of police ICT, advocate general ICT, deputy attorney general, district and sessions judges, DG FIA, DG NCCIA, DG National Forensic Agency, DG Passport and Immigration, federal prosecutor general and the registrar of IHC.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026