Jail Reforms: 1996- 2001

An exhaustive survey of Punjab jails in Pakistan by Fayyaz Mansoor revealed that the role and outcome of the institution was not in accordance with real purpose of correction centers. The prevailing model gives the picture of criminal producing factory instead of a behavior correction center. The jail governing laws were discriminative and dictatorial. The functionality of jail department in Pakistan was totally a failure. The living conditions in jails and its governance was conducive in making prisoners bigger criminals, sick, antisocial, hateful and drug addicts instead of correcting their behavior. Secondly, the level of inhuman treatment with prisoners was one of the worst examples in the world. Further, there was no coordination between jails and prosecution department for initiating timely trials of prisoners or appearance before courts for bails resulting in unjust and prolonged extrajudicial detainment. Corrupted system was facilitating Influential and rich criminals providing them with luxurious cells along with servant service. The women and juveniles were not protected and were sexually assaulted and physically abused by staff and others. Therefore, Mr. Mansoor thoroughly examined jail manual and analyzed the institution’s functionality in order to determine the grey areas. In the light of his survey he saw a need of massive jail reforms to make its function fair, transparent and purposeful.

A comprehensive study report was compiled by Chairman Insaf society that addressed flaws, deficiencies, corrupt practices and discriminative laws. He sent his recommendation to higher authorities for reforms in institutional system and laws in order to make the system effective and efficient. Certain discriminatory sections of jail manual were challenged in Superior courts.

An objective oriented model of correction center was designed and submitted to home ministry and Governor Punjab for consideration. A few changes have been made in jail system in the light of our recommendations which have obviously improved the system to some extent but still needs to reforms recommended by us in order to make the institution real, purposeful and free of discrimination acts where rich prisoners are still getting comforts inside the jails like rest house and the influential or political corrupt people have legal right to be entitled for luxurious cells with servant services.

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