by Waleed Tariq

A prison is a place in which criminals are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Prisons are also known as conventional community centre which should play an important role in lessening crime in any society reform through reformation. The institution of a prison should bring amongst the individuals, behavioral changes so that they can serve their nation in a better way. Prisons should not be just taken as places to detain criminals but something constructive shall be done so that it can make them a better person, a better citizen in the society.

I visited the Karachi Central Jail in December 2009 and realized that unfortunately, Pakistan has a similar jail system where prisoners only become non functional organs for our society. The conditions over there triggers violence rather than curing them mentally. This can be proved by the poor facilities present there.

During the inspection especially of the low class cells I noticed that prisoners face extreme pathetic, worse living conditions. Health and cleaning facilities are not sufficient and leave a lot to be desired. Infectious and contagious diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis are widespread with dirty toilets also located within the prison cells. Proper sanitation services are not provided resulting in rampant skin diseases amongst the inmates.

L to R: Sarmad Lashari, The then IG Khi Central Jail, Nusrat Mangan and Waleed Tariq – On the right side is Karachi’s central jail

The delayed and time-consuming trial system also makes a troublesome experience for the prisoners. Some of he under-trial prisoners I met were unduly awaiting the trial process from last four years. Most of the criminals spend more time in prison than the actual duration of the imprisonment that could be awarded against the committed crime. About 70% of the inmates in prisons of Pakistan are under-trial. ” No one listens to the poor, I am under trial since 2003. We want justice” said one inmate of Karachi central jail.

Furthermore, prisoners are not provided employment facilities by the government after their detention term which is another factor that prevents them to serve their country in a positive way in the future.
No proper education or training is given to the illiterate. There is no capacity building prospectus for the inmates at all. Feelings of disconnection with friends and family originate due to this.

When we come to the administrative aspect of the issue, corruption does not seem immune to the prisons as well. Whether it’s provision of food, meeting with visitors or the extension of basic facilities, bribery is common everywhere. The human resource available in the form of staff is far less than required; there is a scarcity of staff workers.

Criminals should be punished, although it is more advisable to rehabilitate them rather than just putting them behind bars and forgetting them. In a nutshell, prisoners in Pakistan are not treated fairly and a thorough reformation process shall be considered.