Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, on Friday, expressed his satisfaction with the efforts to upgrade jails and the support provided by the government of Punjab during his visit to the District Prison in Rahimyar Khan.
This was his third day of visiting remote areas of the country. During the visit, he was accompanied by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, Justice of the Lahore High Court, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the District and Sessions Judge of Rahimyar Khan, and the Inspector General of Prisons. This visit is part of his commitment to personally observe the conditions of prisons and inmates. It also reflects his determination to bring substantial reforms to the Criminal Justice System, of which prisons are an integral part.
During the inspection of the District Jail, the Chief Justice reviewed the facilities provided to inmates. He visited the female and juvenile sections, the jail dispensary, and the bakery, expressing his satisfaction. He also met with both undertrial and convicted prisoners. Noting that some cases were moving slowly, he requested the District and Sessions Judge to examine such cases with abnormal delays and ensure their speedy disposal. He emphasized the importance of skill development for inmates so they can contribute to society after completing their sentences.
The Chief Justice also praised the efforts of certain philanthropic organizations for providing additional health and education facilities. He directed the District Judiciary to utilize the services of the Law and Justice Commission for the payment of fines for convicted prisoners and to finance legal aid for deserving inmates. The Chief Justice also commended the Jail Superintendent for maintaining the prison premises in good condition.
Later, the Inspector General of Prisons Punjab briefed the Chief Justice on the ongoing and planned infrastructure improvement programs and the provision of facilities to inmates. The Chief Justice directed the IG to proceed with planned changes to the prison manual so that improvements begin to show. He asked that these initiatives be shared with the Committee working on his behalf to focus on other areas needing attention. He reiterated his commitment to finalize the recommendations of all provincial prison reform committees within three months to address weaknesses in implementation. Following the briefing, he urged the establishment of prison complexes in Rahimyar Khan and Lahore.