The Islamabad High Court directed that the Jail Reform Commission shall now continue as ‘Implementation Commission’ for ensuring that recommendations are complied with.
The court in the said order directed as follows: -The Implementation Commission shall hold a meeting and seek reports from the respective Chief Secretaries of the provinces, who are also members of the Commission, regarding implementation of the recommendations made in the report.
The Commission shall take immediate steps in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Chief Secretaries of the respective provinces regarding those prisoners who are suffering from fatal illness such as HIV, TB and Hepatitis.
The Commission may seek response from the respective provincial Governments regarding recommendations made in the report and the time frame for implementation thereof.
Keeping in view the alarming State of affairs regarding serious violations of human rights and civil liberties of prisoners incarcerated in prisons across the country, the Islamabad High Court constituted a Commission under the chair of Federal Minister for Human Rightson 22nd November, 2019.
The Commission was mandated to investigate human rights violations in the prisons of Pakistan, lack of medical assistance, obstacles in access to a court of law of prisoners who do not have means or assistance in this regard; to investigate failure on part of the executive authorities and respective governments to fulfill obligations and enforce the Prisons Rules and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 regarding to prisoners who suffer from illness and diseases; to carry out a review of the Prisons Rules and other relevant laws with the object of fulfilling the commitments of the State of Pakistan under the Constitution, International Treatise and Conventions; and to propose solutions to deal with the human rights violation in the prisons and amendments in any law, rules or regulations.
In this connection, the Commission took up as its model the UN approved Mandela Rules for treatment of prisoners and the Bangkok Rules specifically relating to women prisoners. It then did a thorough gap analysis matrix with recommendations. The Commission completed its work and submitted report to the Islamabad High Court on 18th January, 2020 for consideration.
