RAWALPINDI:
Prisoners brought from Adiala Central Prison to the Rawalpindi Judicial District Courts for hearings have complained about severe overcrowding in the prison and described the Iftar food provided to inmates – including samosas, pakoras and dates – as very poor quality.
Speaking to reporters after their appearance in court, several defendants said the quarters they are housed in were designed to accommodate 70 to 80 inmates, but currently between 130 and 140 prisoners are confined in one quarter. 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, around 40 prisoners sleep while another 40 stay awake, then they change positions,” said one inmate, describing the conditions of detention as extremely difficult, especially during Ramazan.
The prisoners further demanded that in view of the period of Eid and the month of Ramazan, bail should be granted in cases other than murder, robbery, rape, major financial fraud and terrorism, to reduce prison overcrowding.
While waiting in the temporary cells (Bakshi Khana) of the court complex, several inmates also criticized the quality of the Iftar meals. They say the samosas and pakoras served at sunset are often prepared around 10 a.m., by which time they have become rock hard and excessively salty, leaving inmates with no choice but to throw them away. They add that the dates provided are also of very poor quality.
The prisoners urged judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to carry out surprise inspections of the prison quarters and Iftar arrangements, saying such visits would reveal the true situation inside the prison.
In response to these allegations, prison authorities said that preparing Iftar meals for six to seven thousand inmates inevitably requires advance preparation. They say the bread, pakoras and samosas are freshly made, although they are cooked two to three hours before distribution due to the large number of prisoners.
The officials further noted that the situation is expected to improve once Islamabad Central Model Prison becomes fully operational as prisoners from Islamabad district will be transferred there, thereby easing the pressure on Adiala Prison. They also said that inmates who wish to prepare their own Iftar meals are allowed to do so freely within the prison.
