5,000 prisoners across country suffer from fatal diseases, IHC told.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- A high-level commission, constituted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), has revealed that jails across the country are not only over crowded but that over 5,000 inmates suffer from fatal diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Despite the situation, about half of the sanctioned posts of medical jail staff are lying vacant.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, who is chairperson of the commission, submitted the report before IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday.

According to the report, the overall occupancy in jails of four provinces is 73,661. It said that 'as compared to the total population, the overall authorised capacity of prisons across Pakistan is only for 56,634 inmates'. In Punjab alone, out of 29 of the 41 prisons are overcrowded whereas in Sindh eight prisons are overcrowded.

FEDERAL Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari speaks to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court on Saturday.-APP

The report said: 'Amongst the total prison population, there are currently almost 2,100 prisoners with physical ailments, approximately 2,400 inmates who are suffering from contagious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis and approximately 600 prisoners who suffer from mental disorders.'

The report pointed out that an overwhelming majority of inmates in jails comprised of under trial prisoners (UTPs). In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, out of the 9,900 prisoners, 7,067 are UTPs - which is 71 per cent of the total number of prisoners.

In Sindh, 16,315 are the total prisoners and the UTPs are 11,488 (70pc). In Balochistan, out of 2,122, UTPs are 1,244 (59pc) and in Punjab out of 45,324 prisoners, 25,054 (55pc) are under trial.

Ironically, the UTPs have to be kept with convicted prisoners, which is against global rules.

The report disclosed that about half of the posts of medical staff are vacant. It said: 'The Pakistan Prison Rules contain provisions of adequate medical...