RAWALPINDI:
Prisoners brought from Adiala Central Jail to Rawalpindi Judicial District Courts for hearings have complained of severe overcrowding in the jail and described the Iftar food provided to inmates (including samosas, pakoras and dates) as extremely poor quality.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the sessions courts, several accused said that the rooms where they are held were designed to hold 70 to 80 inmates, but currently there are 130 to 140 prisoners confined in a single room. As a result, many inmates are forced to sleep in bathrooms, while others must take turns resting due to lack of space.
“In our ward, about 40 prisoners sleep while another 40 stay awake and then change,” said one inmate, describing the conditions as extremely difficult, especially during Ramadan.
The prisoners further appealed that given the Eid season and the current month of Ramadan, bail should be granted in cases other than murder, robbery, rape, major financial fraud and terrorism, in order to reduce overcrowding in the jail.
While waiting in the temporary detention cells (Bakshi Khana) of the Judicial Complex, several detainees also criticized the quality of the Iftar meals. According to them, samosas and pakoras served in the evening are usually prepared around 10am, when they become rock-hard and excessively salty, leaving inmates with no option but to throw them away. They added that the dates provided are also of very poor quality.
The prisoners urged judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to conduct surprise inspections of jail wards and Iftar arrangements, saying such visits would reveal the true situation inside the prison.
Responding to the allegations, prison authorities said that preparing Iftar meals for six to seven thousand inmates and detainees inevitably requires prior preparation. They maintained that the bread, pakoras and samosas are freshly made, although they are cooked two to three hours before distribution due to the large number of prisoners.
Officials further noted that the situation is expected to improve once the Islamabad Central Model Jail becomes fully operational as prisoners from Islamabad district will be shifted there, easing the pressure on Adiala Jail. They also stated that inmates who wish to prepare their own Iftar meals can do so freely inside the jail.
