Provinces have been urged to update their prison rules in line with international standards, specifically the Nelson Mandela and Bangkok Rules, to address gaps and improve oversight mechanisms.
This was stressed during a meeting of the Implementation Commission on Prison Reforms on Wednesday in Islamabad. Federal Human Rights Secretary Allah Dino Khowaja chaired the eighth meeting of the commission, while it was attended by home secretaries from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, the Inspector General (IG) of Prisons from Balochistan, AIG of Prisons from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and representatives from the ministries of Interior, National Health Services and Regulation, as well as the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), and the Director General for Human Rights, along with senior officials from provincial departments.
Khowaja underscored the importance of establishing a comprehensive file management system for prisoners to align with the Nelson Mandela Rules, aiming to improve prison conditions and ensure the humane treatment of incarcerated individuals.
The commission reviewed critical issues, including the problem of overcrowding in prisons and the need for a new central prison in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The current facilities, particularly for under-trial prisoners, were deemed insufficient, posing serious health and safety risks. The commission also recommended constructing hospitals and residential facilities for jail staff, particularly addressing security and sanitation concerns in existing facilities.
Provincial governments were urged to adopt Punjab's model for providing healthcare services inside prisons, focusing on mental health and primary care.
The Ministry of Human Rights initiative of establishing daycare centres in jails under a Women Empowerment Package, which aims to support incarcerated mothers and children, was highlighted during the meeting.
The Sindh Prisons Department was requested to share the Sindh Prisons and Corrections Services Act and Rules of 2019, with the other provinces to facilitate legislative alignment across the country. Provinces were also encouraged to consider establishing a Resident Jail Ombudsman to enable swift redressal of complaints by prisoners, a model currently being pursued in Punjab.
In addition, the commission recommended that all provinces review their existing prison rules and check whether they were in accordance with international standards, specifically, the Nelson Mandela Rules and Bangkok Rules, address gaps and improve oversight mechanisms.
It was shared that the draft rules for the prisons in Islamabad would be developed by the Interior Division and that they would be vetted in consultation with the Human Rights Division to ensure compliance with these standards.
The secretary concluded by urging all provinces to strengthen their legal aid mechanisms and oversight systems, ensuring prisoners' fair and humane treatment as part of Pakistan's commitment to upholding human rights.