ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The living conditions for 16,908 minors languishing in different jails of the country have not changed much with the passage of time, and the junior inmates are facing almost similar problems they were confronting at the beginning of the 90’s.

According to a Punjab Social Welfare Department report these people live in overcrowded cells, share accommodation with others, getting insufficient food and protection from weather hardships.

These minors seldom get enough recreation opportunity. They remain locked in barracks from 4 pm to 6 am everyday and are frequently abused during detention.

There is hardly any facility for their formal schooling, though they do get some religious education. There are reports that a large number does not get any legal assistance.

The challans of 3,127 of the inmates have not been presented in the court due to inability of the law-enforcing agencies to finalise their cases. Besides, almost 80 percent of the inmates are under trial.

These minors are facing charges like theft, pick-pocketing, robbery, ammunition and sexual offences. However, it has been learnt that most of them are behind the bars for drug related crimes.

In the Adiala Jail there are 588 minors, 18 of whom are in the 7-12 age group. There are 28 children of less than 4 years in the jail staying with their mothers, 13 of whom are infants.

Jail officials say the mothers are permitted to keep their minor children on humanitarian grounds. Dr Mrs Abbass, a psychiatrist, says remaining with mothers in a prison could lead to mental disorders in the children.

Mrs Shazia Ulfat, coordinator of a local NGO working on the condition of prisoners, said remaining with mothers in jail had ruined the life of innumerable children.— Zahra Syed