Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz Monday said that necessary support would be provided to all those prisoners that are languishing in jails due to nonpayment of fine for their release and focus would be made on rehabilitation of prisoners including juvenile inmates in order to make them useful citizens of the society.
He was addressing a press conference here at the office of the Provincial Ombudsman. He said that said Federal Ombudsman has devised an inclusive and speedy mechanism for swift disposal of public complaints against the government organizations in a short time.
He said speedy mechanism has been devised to swiftly address people's complaints against the government organizations and provide speedy justice to all aggrieved parties at their doorsteps. He said a new mobile application system has been developed for filling of complaints and tracking of applications on fast track basis.
Tahir Shahbaz said Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) has received around 70,000 complaints during 2018 against various agencies and majority of them were disposed off accordingly. He said once a complaint was received either in written form or through mobile app, was being decided within 50 to 60 days, adding majority of complaints are being received against power distribution companies.
Shahbaz said he held an important meeting with Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today and discussed with him jails reforms besides others issues confronted to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said a comprehensive report about recommendations of Federal Ombudsman regarding improvement of jails conditions made by provinces would be submitted with Supreme Court next month.
Federal Ombudsman was tasked by the Supreme Court to formulate recommendations for improving jails conditions and to redress grievances of prisoners. He said that Supreme Court has endorsed Federal Ombudsman recommendations and on September 18, 2018 has ordered submission of implementation report after every three months, adding three reports have already been submitted in this regard.
Shahbaz said districts oversight committees for welfare of prisoners were formed that would visit jails every month with a clear directions to submit reports to Federal Ombudsman Office besides preparations of standard operating procedures (SOP) to help facilitate inmates.
He said it has been recommended that a jail should be established in every district headquarter to address problems of overcrowding and efforts should be made for completion of construction work of Swat, Hangu and Shangla jails besides expansion of DI Khan, completion of Bakhshi Khanas at Swabi, Charsadda and Haripur within stipulated time.
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