ISLAMABAD: In a significant move toward judicial reform, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi chaired a pivotal meeting at the Supreme Court’s Peshawar Branch Registry, aimed at overhauling the prison system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The meeting led to the formation of a sub-committee tasked with drafting a comprehensive package of reforms for the province’s prisons, as announced in a press release on Saturday.
The sub-committee, to be led by Justice Ijaz Anwar Khan of the Peshawar High Court, includes prominent figures such as retired Justice Qalandar Ali Khan, social worker Ms. Ayesha Bano, and members from both the government and opposition. It also features representatives from the Inspector General of Prisons and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP).
The committee’s primary focus will be assessing the current conditions in KP’s prisons, addressing the issues of under-trial prisoners, and proposing rehabilitative programs that include vocational training, mental health support, and educational initiatives. These reforms aim to better prepare inmates for reintegration into society.
The effort is part of a broader goal to align provincial reforms with the upcoming National Jail Reform Policy, which seeks to create a more humane, transparent, and efficient criminal justice system nationwide.
Justice Yahya Afridi commended the Peshawar High Court for releasing 1,289 prisoners involved in minor offenses and praised the KP Police for their resilience in countering terrorist threats. He also emphasized the urgent need to upgrade forensic science facilities to enhance evidence-based investigations.
The meeting, attended by key judicial and administrative leaders, including KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan, also included a moment of reflection and prayer for the victims of a recent tragedy in Kurram.
The National Jail Reform Policy is designed to establish a rehabilitative, transparent, and constitutionally compliant correctional framework, bringing Pakistan’s prison system in line with international human rights standards.
