CJP Yahya Afridi chairs meeting in Peshawar on jail reforms, prisoner welfare

Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Friday chaired a meeting in Peshawar on jail reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, KP Police Inspector General Akhtar Hayat Khan, KP Prisons Inspector General Muhammad Usman, Supreme Court registrar, PHC judges, members of the KP Provincial Assembly and social worker Ayesha Bano attended the meeting.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the meeting was meant to discuss the national jail reforms policy and welfare of prisoners. Speaking at the meeting, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi underlined the need for a just and functional justice system in the country. He praised the release of 1,289 prisoners involved in petty crimes through camp courts.

A proposal was floated at the meeting about formation of a prison reforms committee for the welfare of prisoners. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi announced formation of a sub-committee for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa headed by Ayesha Bano. The committee will prepare a report on conditions of prisoners of different categories.

The participants in the meeting laid emphasis on the need for upgrading forensic science facilities in the province. They also said that academic and psychological assistance programmes should be introduced for prisoners.