Prisoners describe their internal culture, expensive facilities and harsh living conditions
RAWALPINDI:
Originally built in 1986 for 3,000 prisoners and later expanded to accommodate 4,000 inmates, Adiala Prison currently houses nearly 7,000 prisoners and undertrial detainees, making it one of the largest prisons in Asia.
The prison includes local and foreign inmates from countries including the United States, Britain, Nigeria, India and Bangladesh.
At a recent hearing in the Islamabad High Court regarding meetings with the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, government officials said the Adiala Prison superintendent was “the king of the prison” and enjoyed complete decision-making autonomy.
Inside the prison, inmates and remand prisoners developed their own code words for various sections and practices of prison life.
According to prisoners, those who regularly pay money and gifts to prison staff are called “Sab Acha” prisoners or “Tori” prisoners, meaning influential and privileged prisoners.
These detainees can sleep and move freely, use their cell phones and receive food from home.
Mattresses and comfortable bedding are also provided.
Prisoners unable to pay are forced to sleep on the bare floor, near the toilet, without sheets or mats. These areas are referred to by inmates as “the highway.”
The diluted tea served at breakfast is called “Scale” in prison slang.
A small piece of meat with watery sauce served once a week is called “Diesel”, while half-baked bread served three times a day is called “Nafri”.
Duckweed served in prison is called “Langar”.
According to inmates, prisoners are forced to sit without shoes during visits by the prison director, judges or other officials to prevent anyone from throwing away their shoes.
Prisoners who stand up, complain, or look directly at officials during inspections would be considered guilty of serious misconduct and would then be subject to corporal punishment.
If two prisoners fight, they would both be confined in a small punishment cell called a “Qasuri”, where inmates can only sit or lie down.
Prisoners placed in “Qasuri” are not even presented before the courts during hearings.
Detainees returning from court are subject to full body searches and any money, cigarettes or items recovered are confiscated.
Prisoners claimed that cigarettes were extremely expensive inside the jail, with a pack of Gold Leaf selling for Rs 800 and a Capstan for Rs 500.
With the onset of summer, inmates, women and children living with their mothers in prison reportedly suffered from skin rashes.
Prisoners have called on philanthropists to donate coolers, fans and solar panels to improve living conditions inside the prison, where power outages are common.
They also urged social organizations that distribute free meals in markets to also send food to prisoners.
Many prisoners whose sentences have been completed reportedly remain in prison because they cannot pay the fines imposed by the courts.
Inmates appealed to philanthropists to help pay these fines so that poor prisoners could secure their release.
The prisoners also demanded immediate implementation of the Islamabad Prison Project so that around 3,000 inmates could be transferred from Adiala Prison, thereby reducing overcrowding and allowing prisoners to sleep in rooms rather than on the “highway”.
