Gilani calls for sweeping jail reforms to hasten disposal of prisoners' cases

Islamabad, Apr 21(ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed the law and justice ministry to prepare recommendations for the release of prisoners, who are languishing in various jails for years due to the police's failure to present solid evidence against them.

Gilani also directed Law Minister Farooq H Naek to prepare a summary of reforms to be introduced in jails and look into the reasons for the delay in the disposal of cases.

The move, which is expected to change Pakistan's judicial system, comes after the Bannu jailbreak operation, in which dozens of Taliban insurgents stormed into the central jail and freed over 384 prisoners. The incident shocked law enforcement agencies and also raised questions about the jailing and security system in Pakistan.

Naek will visit jails to gain first-hand knowledge of the conditions and analyse the causes of delay in the disposal of cases.

He will also hold meetings with the inspector generals of jails in every province to redress inmates' grievances, law ministry officials told The Express Tribune.

"Inmates who have completed their sentence and cases filed against inmates without any consequential evidence will be disposed of as quickly as possible," Naek said.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also constituted a high-powered committee to prepare recommendations for jail reforms. Interior Secretary Siddiq-e-Akbar will head the committee looking into jail related issues. (ANI)