Peshawar prison's poor condition draws CJP's ire

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar, during his visit to Peshawar Central Prison on Wednesday, expressed his anger over the prison's poor conditions. In his remarks, the Chief justice said, "These patients are humans, not animals. And these facilities are being provided to them. Look at the bathrooms. Is this way you keep these patients?" said angry Chief Justice to the MS of the hospital."
During his visit, scores of patients also came to him with complaints about the staff and how they were being treated. After taking note of the prison's deplorable condition, the CJP summoned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to the prison.
The chief justice arrived in Peshawar to visit hospitals of the city as he did the same in Sindh and Punjab. PTI chief Imran Khan had welcomed Justice Nisar's intention to inspect conditions in Peshawar's hospitals and had invited him to visit Hayatabad Medical Complex as well.
"The conditions reflect the performance of the staff here", said the chief justice. "These are human beings, not animals."
Khattak showed up over the chief justice's order, but later talking to media there, he said he had come there to meet Chief Justice Nisar and was not there for a hearing. Before summoning the chief minister, the chief justice visited various sections of the prison.
On the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Azam Khan and Secretary Health, Abid Majeed, KP Jails IG were also present during the visit of the Chief Justice to the Peshawar Central prison.
KP Health Secretary Abid Majeed briefed the Chief Justice that the psychiatric hospital in the prison is under construction since 2012. He added that work on the hospital has not yet been completed as the government was not releasing funds for the purpose.
The chief justice also visited the psychiatric hospital in Peshawar, expressing anger at the state of the facility.
During the visit, the chief justice asked the in-charge if patients spend their days lying on beds or there are arrangements for them to pass their time outside.
The chief justice asked where patients are made to sit when they leave their rooms. To this, the hospital administration said benches are arranged for the patients when they come out of their wards.
Moreover, during the visit, the Jails IG informed the chief justice that they will start shifting the prisoners to the new jail from next month. He made the statement after Chief Justice Nisar addressed dismay at the overcrowded prison.
Before Peshawar, the chief justice had also visited the psychiatric hospital in Lahore after he received complaints of mismanagement at the facility.
The hospital visit was planned over the case of a woman reportedly with mental disabilities, who was on a death row.
On his previous visit to Peshawar, the chief justice had ordered action against bogus clinics and quacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.