Sindh's Caretaker Chief Minister Former Justice Zahid Qurban Alavi has a dream to re-open Badin Open Jail as training center for prisoners and students of various technical fields. He had expressed his desire during a chat with Business Recorder at his office of Sindh Zakat Council just four days before he took oath as caretaker chief minister of the province.
Sitting at his office in relaxed mode Justice Alavi had told this scribe that he had visited Badin Open Jail and was very impressed by its location and environment. "Ayaz Soomro made efforts to re-open the prison when he was Minister for Prisons. I am also impressed by the location of jail and a wind power project can be established there to supply electricity to the prison," he said.
"The reopening of the open jail has become my dream. If it was re-opened as per my idea; prison as training center for prisoners and students of various technical fields, it would change the lives of thousands of inmates languishing in Sindh's jails," he added.
He had said that not only the prisoners would be provide learning facilities of various technical courses but students of technical fields from universities can also be invited to come, live and learn from the instructors and machines of the facility.
Alavi had told this scribe that he had prepared project paper for the purpose and sent to some international organisations for funding. "If funding was made available, he would leave his every assignment and would rush to Badin to re-open this historical prison as per his plan," he added.
As per the plan, prisoners would enjoy their jail terms with their families in Chounras (huts) instead of living in barracks at the proposed facility and all the inmates would also be trained to cultivate various crops at the land of the prison, he had elaborated.
It may be noted here that Sindh government had taken a decision to re-open Badin's open Jail in 2011. All Jail superintendents of the province were directed to scrutinise the lists of prisoners, who had spent almost 70 percent of their jail terms.
According to the plan of Jail authorities, the prisoners, who have passed almost 70 percent of their terms, will enjoy their remaining days with their families in the huts of Badin's open Jail. But the decision could not be implemented after the then minister for prisons was changed.
There are two open prisons in the world; one is in France and second in Badin district of Sindh. The Badin Open Jail's history could be traced back to British colonial era when the then rulers established the open jail to lodge the Hurs, the disciples of Shaheed Pir Sibghatullah, during Hur freedom movement.
As the former justice has risen to the highest office of the province, it would be interesting to see whether he would be able to materialise his dream of re-opening Badin Open Jail for inmates as per his dream plan during his tenure as caretaker chief minister.
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