RAWALPINDI:
Prisoners brought from Adiala Central Jail to the courts of the Rawalpindi District Judiciary for hearings have complained of severe overcrowding in the jail and described the Iftar food provided to the inmates – including samosas, pakoras and dates – as extremely poor quality.
Speaking to reporters after appearing in court, several defendants said the wards where they are housed were designed to hold 70 to 80 inmates, yet between 130 and 140 prisoners are currently confined to a single ward. As a result, many inmates are forced to sleep in toilets, while others have to take turns resting due to lack of space.
“In our ward, about 40 prisoners sleep while another 40 stay awake and then they take turns,” said one inmate, describing conditions as extremely difficult, especially during Ramazan.
The prisoners further appealed that in view of the Eid season and the ongoing month of Ramazan, bail should be granted in cases other than murder, robbery, rape, major financial fraud and terrorism to reduce overcrowding in the jail.
While waiting in the temporary holding cells (Bakshi Khana) in the court complex, several prisoners also criticized the quality of the Iftar meals. According to them, the samosas and pakoras served at sunset are often prepared around 10 a.m., by which time they have become hard as rock and far too salty, leaving the inmates with little choice but to discard them. They added that the dates provided are also of very poor quality.
The prisoners urged Supreme Court and Supreme Court judges to conduct surprise inspections of jail wards and Iftar events, saying such visits would reveal the true situation inside the jail.
Responding to the allegations, prison authorities said that preparing Iftar meals for six to seven thousand inmates and detainees inevitably requires advance preparation. They maintained that the bread, pakoras and samosas are freshly made, though they are prepared two to three hours before distribution due to the large number of prisoners.
Officials further noted that the situation is expected to improve once Islamabad Central Model Jail becomes fully operational as prisoners from Islamabad district will be transferred there, easing the pressure on Adiala Jail. They also said that inmates who want to prepare their own Iftar meals are allowed to do so freely in the prison.
