According to a recent news report, inmates at the Karachi women's prison are now learning the art of yoga as part of their daily routine. The project was initiated almost two years ago. Women prisoners have gradually shown interest and credited it with providing a calming influence in their lives while they remain confined behind the bars. This is not the only innovative initiative undergoing in the cells.
Earlier this year, there was a painting exhibition where 92 works were put up within the corridors of Karachi Central Jail, all drawn by the inmates. It is these kinds of creative projects and ideas which can help make lives of over roughly 80,000 inmates within Pakistani jails bearable, if not better. Pakistan has a notoriously weak justice system and even shoddier jails. Repeatedly, there have been incidents reported in the media where inmates die because of ill treatment or lack of medical facilities, suffer sexual abuse by fellow prisoners or torture by police. Besides, illegal items easily make their way inside the jail premises which allows the criminals to engage the police, something which happened in Hyderabad jail in March this year when prisoners took policemen hostage and the resultant battle caused death of seven detainees and injuries to a number of people on both sides. The cause behind this rioting was a two-day power failure in stifling, suffocating environs.
The issues afflicting jails in the country are multifarious. First and foremost among them is the serious issue of capacity. For a country where crime is rising at a rapid rate and with a judicial system which dispenses verdicts at snail's pace, existing jails are now accommodating three times the number of inmates they can actually hold. This is where rest of the problems branch out from, as police are unable to control the prisoners, who in turn create disturbance.
The second is the politicisation, as political parties and nefarious elements lend support to their cadres who are arrested, and buy off the jail authorities to ensure preferential treatment and supply illegal arms and narcotics inside the jails. The case of chief of a banned outfit arrested 12 years ago, is another example of a serious lack of control as he allegedly continued to master-mind terrorist attacks despite being confined in his barrack in the Kot Lakhpat Jail.
The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) met in May this year to discuss the matter of jail reforms to improve the conditions of inmates. It found that after the implementation of judicial policy, increased dispensed verdicts helped reduce the number of prisoners, albeit negligible. The committee recommended the setting up of a cottage industry inside jails with a view to utilising the skills of inmates and providing them with an avenue to engage in productive, creative work.
Karachi jail inmates who took part in the yoga programme and those who participated in the painting project expressed a strong sense of contentment. The sentiments shown by these inmates actually holds key to the jail reforms. Unfortunately in Pakistan, the prevalent culture is of meting out brutality and jails are the breeding ground for criminals. In western countries, jails are not just prison, they are considered 'correctional facilities', where the idea is to provide support and counselling to inmates so that they could become part of society in a beneficial manner and be productive once they serve their term. The culture of inclusiveness is predominant, as inmates are allowed to learn new activities, mingle with the jail staff and despite being confined within walls, and above all, are treated in a humane, respectful manner.
In Pakistan, painfully slow pace of justice, capacity issues and corruption constitute a formidable challenge to the authorities. This means that a culprit accused of even a petty crime, is bound to spend prolong time in an already overflowing prison amid inhumane conditions. And all of this along with the matter of juvenile prisoners who are kept locked up with repeat offenders.
The government must, therefore, take all the required steps with a view to making life better for those who are already suffering the ignominy of living in confinement. Besides providing training to police to treat criminals better, counselling services should be provided to inmates. This could help instil confidence among prisoners to rectify and repent for their sins and be better human beings. From a structural perspective, however, more jails need to be built as well as the current facilities be overhauled to ensure better living conditions for criminals. As mentioned earlier, initiatives must be taken to provide productive outlets and encourage private sector and community workers to engage with prisoners. Prisons will serve their purpose if the focus is on reforming prisoners. However, until life in prison becomes a truly undesirable option, crime will not be deterred by the threat of imprisonment.
Published in Business Recorder (26 August 2011)
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