The Punjab Home Department has introduced new regulations for prisoners to use PCO (Public Call Office) telephone services in jails, following instructions from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
According to a statement from the spokesperson of the Punjab Home Department, prisoners will now have the facility to make audio and video calls to their families, lawyers and relatives.
The PCO service will be available from Monday to Saturday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The jail superintendent will issue a weekly schedule for inmates to access the service.
Each inmate can register up to five phone numbers for contact purposes, but only close family members, spouses and legal representatives will be allowed to contact.
Upon request, the system operator will confirm the prisoner’s details with the jail superintendent before granting access to the PCO.
All prisoners, except those convicted of terrorism or anti-state activities, will be able to use the PCO service.
According to the rules, prisoners can use the PCO between 60 and 80 minutes per week.
The use of the PCO will be verified by the appropriate barracks in charge and the amount will be deducted from the inmate’s Pre-Prison Management Information System (PPMS) account.
The statement further mentions that prisoners under 18 years of age and indigent prisoners will receive PCO service free of charge. In case of security threats or a prisoner being involved in crimes within the jail, the superintendent may suspend the privileges of the PCO, subject to review by the relevant DIG within three days.
Additionally, prisoners involved in crimes will be placed in punishment blocks and their access to the PCO will be temporarily suspended. Inmates are prohibited from holding conference calls.
The assistant jail superintendent may disconnect any call if inappropriate or objectionable conversation is detected.
The Department of the Interior added that if prisoners engage in objectionable, anti-national or inappropriate discussions, their PCO privileges may be temporarily suspended.
The jail superintendent may suspend access for up to one month, and the regional DIG will have the authority to extend this suspension.
A prisoner can lodge a complaint at the IG Jail Grievance Cell using the PCO booth free of cost. Women, minors and those sentenced to death will have their own PCO cabin in their barracks.
All call logs will be kept for at least one month and each prisoner will be allowed only one PCO account.
Violations of the rules will lead to action against the relevant authorities.
The release also noted that the jail superintendent will submit a monthly computerized financial report on the PCO system to the Prison Foundation.
The Secretary of the Punjab Home Department has ordered strict implementation of these new rules.
Yesterday, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz announced the introduction of Pakistan’s first Minority Card, which will provide financial assistance to the underprivileged members of the minority community, ensuring their livelihood with financial support every three months.
While speaking at a Christmas ceremony at Lahore’s largest church, the House of Prayer, Maryam Nawaz said that the Minority Card would be launched in early 2025.
He promised to provide as much financial help as possible to the minority community, ensuring that they do not have to rely on the support of others.
Maryam Nawaz said, “The State is like a mother and as Chief Minister, I am like a mother to you. A mother never discriminates between her children.
There is no difference in my heart and mind based on religion. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and people of all other religions are the pride of my life.”
