ISLAMABAD (APP) - Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Saturday launched initiatives for comprehensive jail reforms for effective prison system to ensure a fair legal framework.
The discussion was also attended by members from both treasury and opposition political parties Ahad Khan Cheema and Ms Khadijah Shah who have experienced imprisonment in jail.
This session marked the inaugural discussion for developing National Jail Reform Policy, focusing on prison reforms and the welfare of inmates as part of a broader criminal justice reform strategy for Pakistan.
Chief Justice Afridi shared his vision for modernising Pakistan’s criminal justice system, stressing that a humane and effective prison system is essential to ensure a fair legal framework.
He noted that data collected by Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) reveals a deeply concerning situation nationwide, with 108,643 inmates housed in facilities with an authorised capacity of only 66,625.
Punjab faces particularly severe challenges, with 67,837 prisoners confined in prisons built to accommodate just 36,365. Further analysis shows that 36,128 of these are under-trial prisoners, many of whom have been awaiting trial for over a year, highlighting a critical issue for the justice system.
Chief Justice Afridi emphasised the importance of addressing these urgent issues in Punjab, beginning a phased approach that will ultimately extend to the entire country.
The agenda centered on the LJCP’s proposal, a National Jail Reform Policy in alignment with international standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, Bangkok Rules, and Beijing Rules, to ensure humane and rehabilitative management across Pakistan’s correctional facilities.
This proposal received strong support from attendees, who considered a phased plan to promote alternative sentencing options and rehabilitation initiatives for under-trial prisoners.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan constituted a sub-committee comprising Justice (R) Shabbar Raza Rizvi, Ms Saima Amin Khawaja (Advocate), Senator Ahad Khan Cheema and Ms Khadija Shah to inspect the jails across the province and to give recommendations to streamline processes to address the high numbers of under-trial prisoners and promote alternative sentencing options, including community service and probation.