Federal Ombudsman and University of Health Sciences has decided to develop mechanism in order to provide health facilities to more than 50000 inmates of various categories in prisons of Punjab, Balochistan and AJK jails in pursuance of the top court directives.
While talking to TLTP on Sunday Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, Senior Advisor (Law)/Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis said that Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat has started implementation process of the recommendations which have been already been endorsed by top court for improving jails conditions in Pakistan.
He informed during a meeting with vice chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore Javed Akram, vice chancellors and principals of government as well as private medical colleges of Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir, it has been decided that all the private and public sector hospitals in the vicinities will provide medical facilities to prisoners.
Khokhar said these recommendations have been made in pursuance of Supreme Court orders which include establishment of district oversight committees for the welfare of prisoners, establishment of jail in every District Headquarter and by the Federal Government in Islamabad.
He further said there are proposals for significant expansion of probation / parole facilities to reduce pressure on accommodation facilities in jails, automation to ensure development of interface among jails, courts and NADRA for monitoring and verification of the prisoners record, formal education and skill training facilities for prisoners, allocation of funds and resources for improvement in jails, free legal aid especially to under trial prisoners and for appeal propose.
Khokhar told that Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat has already taken steps in jails for provision of technical and formal education, no examination fee for prisoners, payment of Diyat / fines to deserving prisoners, repairing Borstal school building Faisalabad, gifts for women prisoners and Juvenile, provision of beds to female prisoners.
He said that principals of Medical Colleges were willing for provision of health facilities to the jails, situated in their areas whereas vice chancellor UHS pledged his full support for implementation of recommendations related to health facilities.
Khokar informed that office of the Federal Ombudsman and University of Health Sciences will entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing health facilities in jails. University of Health Sciences (UHS) will plan for screening of ailing prisoners and medical campaigns for all jails and would submit their action plan to Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat.
Responding to a question, Khokhar informed that as many as 30000 inmates in the prisoners of Sindh and KPK will also be provided such facility through intervention of the Ombudsman office soon.
