Did you know that the total prison population in Sindh stands at 20,000, surpassing the authorized capacity by 31% ? Furthermore, a staggering 52% of undertrial prisoners in Sindh Jails face minor charges, shedding light on the complexity of our justice system.
The Sindh Human Rights Commission as per its mandate outlined in Article 4(iv) of SPHRA 2023, conducted a comprehensive visit to the Central Jail, Hyderabad.
Led by the Chairperson, Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, and DC Hyderabad, Mr. Tariq Qureshi, along with accompanying officials including Jail Superintendent, Mr. Ashfaque Kalwar, and DIG Prison, Hyderabad, Nasir Khan, SHRC inspected various facilities within the jail premises.
From classrooms to the kitchen, library to the IT Centre, SHRC is pleased to report that all facilities were found to be in a commendable state. During discussions with officials, the focus was on crucial matters such as legal aid provision to under trial prisoners, the functioning of the District Legal Empowerment Committee (DLC), and cases concerning Arsh, Diyat, and Daman.
In line with the Sindh Prisons and Corrections Service Act & Rules 2019, SHRC is exploring avenues to utilize funds from the Committee for the Welfare of Prisoners to address this issue and ensure access to legal aid for all individuals in need.
