The Lahore High Court has ordered to end the VIP culture in jails emphasizing on the rights of the inmates, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The court on Friday heard the case of an ailing prisoner Fakhar Islam who prayed to the court to order the jail authorities to shift him to a hospital.
The LHC directed to send the court order to all sessions judges, IG Jails and IG police.
While hearing the case, Justice Suhail Nasir said that the state machinery comes into action for a wealthy person and everything is accomplished for influential people in a jiffy. He said the court would not allow discrimination at all.
The judgement observed that the lengthy correspondence delays the decisions and the IG Jail only looks after the interests of the VIPs.
The court order said that ‘VIP’ also stands for ‘Very Important Prisoners’. It further observed that in the case of prisoner Islam, IG Jail and superintendent did not perform their duties. It said that the jail superintendent could get the permission on telephone.
The court ordered to shift the sick prisoner to the hospital in three days. It said that the application of the prisoner seeking his shifting to the hospital must not be adjourned. It asked the sessions judges to dispose of the prisoner application in shortest possible time.
The judgement observed that as many as 2,100 jail inmates are suffering from AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis. But the jail facilities do not have medical equipment to cure ailments. The hiring of medical staff is also still pending in jails. It said that 245 applications of sick prisoners seeking treatment are pending.
The court order said that Islam also emphasizes on the rights of inmates.