CJ PHC pays surprise visit to District Jail, Dir Lower

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice Peshawar High Court, Peshawar Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan paid a surprise visit to the District Jail Dir Lower at Timergara on Wednesday. He inspected all the barracks, cells, kitchen, hospital, library and other premises of jail having 575 prisoners out of which 275 are hard core militants who alleged their confinement for years and years without commencement of trial.

On enquiry the Superintendent of Jail informed that almost all such inhabitants have recently been transferred to Timergara jail. About non commencement of trials for a long period, the Chief Justice showed great concern and directed all the presiding officers of Anti Terrorism Courts as well as District & Sessions Judges of concerned districts to ensure early commencement of such trials by further directions to ensure fair trial and provide every opportunity to all accused to defend themselves in accordance with law.

During visit to the jail dispensary, the inmates made complaints about the poor medical attendance and treatment particularly of low quality medicines being administered to them about which the doctor on duty informed that he was not well acquainted with the affairs of jail hospital as he was there on a make shift arrangement.

The Chief Justice showed his displeasure about non posting of a qualified and experienced permanent doctor for the District Jail and directed the learned District & Sessions Judge Dir Lower to forth with take up the matter with Director General Health and Services, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar.

The District and Sessions Judge/Zilla Qazi Dir Lower informed the Chief Justice that he has already taken up matter with the quarters concerned and promised to once again approach the DG Health & Service Peshawar.

During his visit to the kitchen the feedback given by prisoners was not found satisfactory. The visiting Chief Justice found that the quality of food was poor which required much more improvement particularly the quality of bread being half backed.

Similarly, Chief Justice observed with great concern that overall sanitation and cleanliness of barracks particularly that of wash rooms require the attention of jail administration.

The Chief Justice also showed his displeasure with regard to broken windows, ventilators and iron gates of the barracks and cells which have been found without proper safety measures to protect the jail inmates against the health hazards i.e. mosquitoes and flies etc.The inmates of jail also tabled complaints about deficient water supply inside the jail premises.

On enquiry the jail authorities briefed that due to last year's devastating floods tubewell has been totally damaged. In this regard the Chief Justice issued directions to the District & Session Judge Dir Lower to immediately take up the matter with concerned department for restoration of water supply to the jail. All the petty nature criminal cases of jail inmates were disposed off by the District & Sessions Judges of their respective districts and so by the judicial as well as Sub Divisional Executive Magistrates.

During his visit, the Chief Justice gave pacified hearing to grievances of prisoners by visiting all the barracks and cells by issuing directions to all concerned for redressal of their grievances at the earliest. The Chief Justice also issued directions with regard to provision of necessary books to facilitate the inmates in pursuit of their educational activities.

The Chief Justice was accompanied by the Registrar Peshawar High Court Peshawar, District & Sessions Judges Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Presiding Officer of ATC Malakand division, Additional District & Sessions Judges Dir Lower and Swat along with Judicial Magistrates, sub divisional Executive Magistrates. The Chief Justice recorded his observations in the jail visit book by specifically highlighting all the poor areas of performance.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011