ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said on Tuesday that the brutal treatment of inmates appeared to be the fault of all chief ministers and chief executives.
The court expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Human Rights’ findings while hearing a petition over human rights violations in prisons.
During the hearing, the IHC questioned who should be held accountable for the jail conditions, stating that it appeared that all provincial chief ministers and chief executives were to blame for the harsh treatment of inmates.
The court went on to say that compensation for inmates should come from the authorities who are accountable for their mistreatment.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah stated that the state cannot mistreat its citizens, but that if they are, “clearly someone is to blame.”
Justice Minallah observed, “The treatment of detainees in jails is a living example of human rights breaches.”
The IHC postponed the hearing and asked the Ministry of Human Rights to submit a report on the case within a month.
Despite the legal concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said last month that there was no rule of law in jails and that under-trial prisoners continue to occupy prisons.
The IHC received a report from the Ministry of Human Rights on the human rights situation at Adiala Jail.
According to the report, Adiala has a capacity of 2,100 convicts, but there are currently 5,799 there.
