Staff Reporter Karachi
Syed Tahir Shahbaz, the Federal Ombudsman has said that biometric identification system be integrated with all departments of criminal administrative justice system with a common interface.
He also said that probation and parole system should be made more effective by making effective coordination.
He chaired a high level meeting in Chief Secretary Office Karachi alongwith Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah to review the progress and implementation status of the recommendations of Prisons Reforms Committee as entrusted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by the IG Prisons Sindh, Special Secretary Home department, Secretaries Law, S&GAD and Secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib Mr. Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Senior Advisor Mr. Ejaz A. Qureshi, Senior Adviser/Incharge RO Karachi Mr. Anwaar Haider and other stakeholders.
The IG Prisons Sindh gave a detailed briefing through a presentation and informed that process of parole system was stopped in 2013 due to serious observations of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
He said that the overcrowding in jails would ease the burden by construction of three new jails in the current financial year i.e. in Benazirabad, Thatta and District Prison Malir, Karachi with the capacity of 1500 prisoners.
Moreover, sindh government has allocated Rs.1010 million for construction of new jails in Tharparker, Mithi, Umarkot, Kashmore, and Kandkot.
He said that Sindh Prisons and Correctional Service has successfully started Prisons Management Information System which will monitor and verify the prisoner’s identity through Biometric Identification System, which has also been linked with Police and NADRA and it would be officially inaugurated on 2nd November.
He said that probation is the domain of courts and parole of the Home department and upto 15-10-2021, “739” prisoners were placed on probation with the orders of courts.
During the meeting the progress of the Provincial, District Oversight Committees (DOC) and Welfare Committees to improve life of prisoners especially children, women and destitute prisoners was discussed decisively with all the stakeholders of province.
The IG Prisons informed that Juveniles and women prisoners have already been segregated, Prisoners voluntary Donations Fund and Free Legal Aid Committee has been established and working with full spirit.
He said that 916 patients of Viral diseases i.e. Hepatitis B, V & HIV have been screened. He informed that at present 19,710 prisoners are in 24 jails of sindh.
