Jail manual is being updated to provide better facilities to convicted and under trial prisoners so that they could be reformed and made able to live a better life after completing their punishments. Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui during questions and answers session on Tuesday told members of the Sindh Assembly that the jail manual was last updated in 1972 and with the passage of time it needed improvement. He said that the jails were overcrowded and it was only in District Jail Khairpur there were 801 prisoners against its capacity of 526.
The minister said the prisoners were being provided all facilities such as food, medical treatment, clothing, bedding, education, recreational facilities, interviews with relatives and meals from their homes if prisoners could arrange.
He said that during the fiscal 2003-04 expenditure in various heads totalled Rs 15.5 million.
To a supplementary question, he said that the budget estimates for expenditure had always been based upon the capacity of prisoners but in such cases where the number of prisoners increased, as was these days, reappropriation from other heads took place to meet the requirement of funds.
To another question, the minister said that there were 1780 vehicles impounded by court as case property and 3196 vehicles impounded under the section 550 criminal procedure code were in Nazarat. Out of these only 75 four-wheal drive had been given to law enforcement agencies for official duty and 157 two-wheal drive were with other officials.
He said that none of these vehicles is case property. All vehicles given to official for use had been duly processed and done strictly under rules.
Replying the question, Siddiqi said that unclaimed vehicles go under the hammer. The last auction had taken place in 1998. Through this auction the government had collected Rs 9.7 million as sale proceeds. The money was deposited in the government treasury.
He said that 3196 vehicles would be sold through public auction soon.
The minister further said the law and order situation in the province had improved. He gave statistical data about crime such as murder, fatal accidents, police accesses against people, kidnapping for ransom and assault against women and said that there was overall improvement in the law and order situation in Sindh.
To a question about facility of the government lawyer to provide help to destitute and poor widows, the minister said no government lawyers had been appointed for the poor widows but the needy were being provided legal assistance through non- governmental organisations.
Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid (Rtd), chairman, Committee of Welfare for Women Prisoner's had established a permanent office adjacent to Special Prison for Women for assistance to the needy women.
Parliamentarians Syed Javed Hussain Shah, Dr Mehreen Razzak Bhutto, Humaira Alwani, Hamidullah Khan Advocate, Anwar Ahmed Khan Maher were given answers at the floor of the House and the rest were to confined themselves as the questions hour ended at about 12:15 pm.
APP Adds: Sindh Home Minister, Rauf Siddiqi said police had killed 16 dacoits, injured another 16 and arrested 108 during the anti-criminals operation in district Sukkur.
Replying to a question, the minister pointed out that the operation was launched by police with the help of Rangers on April 10, 2004 in an area of 600 km of Shah Belo and katcha area and within 5 months some 80 percent area was cleared of criminals. He added the operation is still continuing.
The minister claimed that general crime situation of Sukkur district is under control. Police have taken all possible steps for proper control over the crime and criminals, strong police pickets have been deployed at all strategic and important places, mobile as well as foot patrolling intensified, he added.
He informed that ambush parties have been formed at sub-division level under supervision of respective town police officers (TPOs) for apprehension of notorious criminals, proclaimed offenders and absconders besides recovery of illicit arms.
He told the questioner that no special funds were allocated for the anti-dacoit operation and the same was incurred from the allocated requirements of DPO Sukkur.
Rauf Siddiqi said that for 35 years this was a no-go- area and it is an achievement of the present government which launched the operation.
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