Provincial govts: Improving prison conditions constitutional responsibility: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi said protecting prisoners’ rights is a fundamental component of the justice system, stressing that improving prison conditions is a constitutional responsibility of the provincial governments.

He was speaking at the National Conference on Prison Reforms hosted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday under the auspices of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) at the Supreme Court Auditorium, Islamabad. The conference marked a significant step towards building a nationally coordinated prison reform framework, with the Provincial Governments expressing their collective commitment to advancing the reform agenda envisioned by the NJPMC.

The conference brought together representatives from the judiciary, federal and provincial governments, prison administrations, human rights institutions, law enforcement agencies, and development partners to deliberate on the future of Pakistan’s prison system through a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.

The chief justice welcomed participants, including the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, the chief justices of the Sindh, Balochistan, Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad high courts, and senior police and prison officials. The chief ministers of all the four provinces, and Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar also attended the conference.

Chief Ministers of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and implementing the prison reform agenda under the guidance of the NJPMC. Their participation reflected a shared national resolve to strengthen prison administration, improve rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, uphold human dignity, and modernize correctional services through coordinated federal-provincial cooperation.

Justice Afridi welcomed the collective commitment of the provincial governments to advancing the NJPMC’s National Prison Reform Action Plan through coordinated and practical reforms. He observed that prisons reflect the true pulse of the criminal justice system and emphasized that meaningful reform requires shared institutional responsibility and sustained provincial leadership.

The CJP said safeguarding the rights of inmates must remain a priority within the criminal justice system, highlighting the need to ensure access to healthcare and clean drinking water in prisons. He stressed that lasting improvements in the justice system would come not only through court decisions but through their effective implementation.

He also said accountability within the justice system was being strengthened, adding that an effective criminal justice system is essential for the proper functioning of society. He noted that provincial-level committees have been established to advance prison reforms and that representatives from across the country were participating in the National Conference.

Justice Afridi said the criminal justice system is fundamental to any society and stressed that lasting improvements in the justice system depend not only on court rulings but also on their effective implementation. He added that measures are being taken to strengthen accountability within the justice system and that significant progress has been made in reducing the backlog of pending cases.

The chief justice said improving prison conditions is a constitutional responsibility of provincial governments and emphasized that prisoners’ rights are a key component of the justice system. He also underscored the need to ensure access to healthcare and clean drinking water in prisons and welcomed delegates attending the conference.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that comprehensive reforms are being introduced in the prison system across the country. He emphasized the need to transform the culture within prisons and align prison laws with modern requirements.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in her address said she had experienced imprisonment herself and introduced reforms after witnessing prison conditions first-hand. Before her speech a documentary on jail reforms in Punjab was screened.

She recalled that her blood sugar dropped one day while she was in jail. She said she called for help, but no one came. She said her hands were shaking and the bottle containing jaggery slipped from her hands. CM Maryam said she was forced to eat jaggery from the broken bottle, despite pieces of glass being mixed with it.

She said an emergency panic button had since been introduced in Punjab prisons to improve the safety of inmates.

The chief minister said she was unable to see her mother during her final days, adding that it was also her mother’s birthday. She said her mother often told her, “Only the one who suffers truly understands the pain.” CM Maryam said the prison reforms were introduced in light of her own experience during imprisonment.

She said she spent 24 hours a day in solitary confinement and that prison staff would leave food outside the cell door, knock, and walk away.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government is focused on building a more efficient, humane, and rehabilitative justice system that protects society while preserving human dignity.

He said the Sindh government has adopted a modern prison management framework. He added that legislation has been introduced to ensure prisoners’ welfare, healthcare, education, vocational training, legal aid, and community corrections.

In his remarks, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the province is shifting from a traditional custodial model to a modern correctional service framework focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, and public safety.

He said prison reforms remain a key priority of the provincial government’s agenda. He said a comprehensive programme is being implemented to strengthen correctional administration, including the effective management of prisons and judicial lock-ups across the province.

The Chief Minister said the Balochistan government remains committed to working in partnership with the judiciary to build a correctional system fully aligned with the rule of law.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi in his address said the prison reforms should begin with Adiala jail, and called for improved facilities for the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan at Adiala Jail. He said Imran Khan was being held unjustly and his health had deteriorated in prison, adding Imran Khan also has legal rights, and should receive treatment from his personal physicians.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026