KARACHI, Sept 1: IG Jails Sindh Mohammad Yamin Khan said on Thursday that in all the 20 prisons of Sindh cases of 75 per cent under-trial prisoners were pending in various courts.

He ordered all jail superintendents to strictly follow court directives, especially those associated with appearance of under-trial prisoners before the courts.

He was presiding over a meeting at his office in Central Jail Karachi. The meeting was attended by DIGs Jails of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur and all superintendents of 20 prisons across the province. The IG Prisons informed jail officials about his topmost priorities, and said that the government was taking steps to expedite pending cases to provide quick justice to people.

These steps include establishment of courts inside the jail premises and setting up of more jails.

Commenting on complaints regarding meetings of prisoners with their relatives, he said public had to be provided facility to meet prisoners as per law and any complaint of harassment by jails officials to prisoners and their relatives would not be tolerated.

Mr Yamin also directed that improved facilities by provided to prisoners, including better quality food, potable water, cleanliness and medical treatment to improve jail conditions.

He said that all those contractors providing substandard food be blacklisted, and legal action be taken against them.

He directed the jail officials to shift only those prisoners to jail hospital who were genuinely sick and avoid admitting prisoners without any sickness.—PPI