No Evidence Of Torture Of Women Prisoners Of May 9 Found: NCHR

News Desk

Islamabad: The meeting of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) was informed on Saturday that no evidence of torture or abuse of women prisoners was found in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore.

Ministry of Human Rights Federal Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada chaired the meeting and representatives of all four provincial governments informed him that the rights of all the persons arrested in the wake of the events of May 9 are fully protected under the law.

It is being ensured that all the arrested persons are produced before the court according to law, representatives further stated, adding that a majority of those arrested have either been discharged or released on bail, and only a very small number remain in custody.

NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha said that the Commission had taken cognizance of some allegations in the media regarding the violation of human rights by some women prisoners.

She further stated that the Commission, led by herself and accompanied by representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Justice Project, visited a number of prisons, interviewed many prisoners, and reviewed other evidence.

Javeri Agha informed that the report of the Commission has been finalised and that no evidence of mistreatment, torture, or sexual abuse of women protesters was found by these independent observers. The team, however, found some gaps in procedure and some systemic issues in these arrests and prisons.

Rabiya Javeri mentioned that some prisoners complained about the use of excessive police force or verbal abuse of family members at the time of arrests, adding that some of the prisoners were not aware of their rights.

She also expressed doubts about the efficiency of the oversight committees established to ensure outside review of prison conditions.

Chairperson highlighted recommendations for improvement in the system of prison Administration

Riaz Hussain directed that the report of the Commission be shared with all the provincial governments so that they may initiate the requisite policy reforms.

NCSW Chairperson Nelofar Bakhtiar stressed the need for improvement in the system of prisons, particularly for women inmates.

Nelofar stated that separate cells for women prisoners were required in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. She also emphasised proper food and nutrition arrangements for pregnant women and mothers with infants in custody.

Hussain Pirzada added that prison reforms are an important part of the Human Rights agenda of the government, and the provincial governments also need to make policies to encourage the setting up of rehabilitation centres by the private sector.