LARKANA / NAWABSHAH: Sindh Minister for Prisons Ali Hassan Zardari, who also holds the portfolio of Works & Services, has said that the Sindh government wanted to see that no woman lands in jail. Therefore, he said, societal reforms are being considered.
The minister was speaking to the media on May 20 after visiting jails in Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts over the last couple of days.
He held meetings with jail superintendents and other officials and interacted with inmates, their visiting relatives and the officials responsible for ensuring admissible facilities to inmates.
“We have introduced reforms in women’s prisons … we also want to introduce societal reforms so that no mother or sister ends up in jail,” he said.
Visits several prisons to inspect facilities provided to inmates, their visitors
The minister said he was visiting every jail in Sindh and inspecting quality of food being served to inmates; and assessing the jails’ administrative affairs.
Minister Zardari was informed by a reporter that there were complaints of excesses on inmates by prison officials as well as irregularities on the part of the jail police. He said: “Minor issues do exist, but we have resolved a lot”. He said the media was right in criticising government wherever its shortcomings were noticed, but it must appreciate good work as well.
Earlier, the minister chaired a meeting of prison department’s officials and received a briefing from superintendent of the Larkana Central Prison.
He was informed that the district jail of Larkana is spread over an area of seven acres but it lacks adequate staff. He was urged to address the issue and also look into the problems relating to medical officer and dispensary at the jail to ensure timely and better medical care of inmates.
The jail superintendent requested the minister to help get removed the encroachments from around the jail, saying that they posed security challenges.
On Monday, the minister for prisons visited the Shaheed Benazirabad District Jail in Nawabshah and held a meeting with the jail superintendent and other senior officials.
He received a briefing on the administrative affairs of the jail. The minister went round various sections of the jail and its hospital to inspect the state of health and hygiene. He also interacted with visiting families of inmates and inquired from them about their issues. Jail Superintendent Ghulam Rasool Mashori and other senior officials briefed the minister on the jail’s administration. Minister Zardari issued strict instructions to the jail staff and police personnel asking them to facilitate prisoners’ meetings with their relatives, address on a priority basis the issues being faced by women and take strict action against any staffer found guilty of misconduct. He also emphasised the need for better living and health facilities to be extended to prisoners.
Development schemes
Minister Ali Hassan Zardari also chaired a meeting of his Works & Services department in Darbar Hall at Larkana deputy commissioner’s office to review the ongoing development schemes in the district.
The meeting was attended by MNA Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, MPA Jameel Ahmed Soomro, Mayor Anwar Ali Luhar, Commissioner Tahir Hussain Sangi, DC Wajahat Ghaffar Mirani, District Council Chairman Aijaz Ahmed Laghari, former home minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, Adil Altaf Unar, Khair Mohammad Shaikh, Tariq Anwar Siyal, chairmen of the Dari, Empire, Sachal and Haidari town committees and other elected representatives.
The participants presented to the minister their proposals on new development schemes.
They also apprised him of their problems and public issues. The minister asked the officials concerned to address these issues.
Regarding the required uplift schemes, the minister assured the meeting that more efforts would be put in to accelerate the pace of development in the district.
He assured the participants that their proposals would be put forward so that their schemes could be incorporated in the next annual budget.
Officials from the Works & Services Department briefed the minister on the status of ongoing schemes.
The minister expressed his displeasure over the delay in completing work on the new Circuit House building and asked the officials concerned to ensure its completion as soon as possible. He stressed that all ongoing development schemes should be completed within the stipulated time.
Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025