Prisoners describe internal culture, expensive facilities and harsh living conditions
RAWALPINDI:
Originally built in 1986 for 3,000 inmates and later expanded to accommodate 4,000 inmates, Adiala Prison currently houses nearly 7,000 inmates and remands, making it one of the largest prisons in Asia.
The prison includes local and foreign prisoners from countries including the US, UK, Nigeria, India and Bangladesh.
During a recent hearing in the Islamabad High Court regarding meetings with the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, government representatives stated that the superintendent of Adiala prison was the “king of the prison” and operated with full independence in decision-making.
Inside the prison, inmates and remand prisoners have developed their own unique code words for different sections and practices of prison life.
According to prisoners, prisoners who regularly pay money and gifts to prison staff are called “Sab Acha” prisoners or “Tori” prisoners, meaning prisoners with influence and privileges.
Such inmates can sleep and move freely, use mobile phones and receive food from home.
They are also equipped with mattresses and comfortable bedding.
Prisoners who cannot pay are forced to sleep on bare floors near toilets without sheets or mats. These areas are referred to by the inmates as “the highway”.
The diluted tea served at breakfast is called “Skala” in prison slang.
A small piece of meat with watery gravy served once a week is referred to as “Diesel”, while half-cooked bread served three times daily is known as “Nafri”.
Watery lentils served in jail are called “Langar”.
According to the inmates, the prisoners are forced to sit without shoes during visits by the warden, judges or other officials to prevent anyone from throwing away footwear.
Prisoners who stand up, complain or look directly at officials during inspections are allegedly considered guilty of serious misconduct and later subjected to corporal punishment.
If two prisoners fight, both are reportedly locked in a small punishment cell known as “Qasuri”, where the inmates can only sit or lie down.
Prisoners housed in “Qasuri” are not even produced before the courts during hearings.
Inmates returning from court appearances undergo a full body search and any recovered money, cigarettes or items are confiscated.
Prisoners claimed that cigarettes were extremely expensive in the jail, with a pack of Guldblade selling for Rs800 and Capstan for Rs500.
With the onset of summer, prisoners, female inmates and children living with their mothers in the prison reportedly suffered from heat rash.
Prisoners appealed to philanthropists to donate room coolers, fans and solar panels to improve living conditions inside the prison, where power cuts are frequent.
They also called on welfare organizations that distribute free meals in markets to also send food to prisoners.
Several prisoners whose sentences have been completed reportedly remain incarcerated because they cannot pay fines imposed by the courts.
Prisoners appealed to philanthropists to help pay such fines so that poor prisoners could secure their release.
Prisoners also demanded the immediate operationalization of the Islamabad prison project to move around 3,000 prisoners from Adiala prison, reducing overcrowding and allowing prisoners to sleep in rooms instead of on the “highway”.
